teddy bear

noun

ted·​dy bear ˈte-dē-ˌber How to pronounce teddy bear (audio)
: a stuffed toy bear

Examples of teddy bear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Over the course of a single day, visitors can eat brunch with a TR impersonator, shop for a teddy bear (first inspired by TR), hike in the TR national park, and view a cardboard model of the upcoming TR presidential library, scheduled to open this July 4. Beverly Gage, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2026 Meanwhile, a memorial with teddy bears and Easter bunnies has been growing at the scene ever since the shooting. Ali Bauman, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 The oversized teddy bear of a man with the languid baritone, who speaks with the eloquence of a poet, the encouragement of a coach, and the comfort of a minister, came up in the legendary Night Hawk in the 1970s. Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026 No, Patrick is like a giant teddy bear. Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 7 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for teddy bear

Word History

Etymology

Teddy, nickname of Theodore Roosevelt; from a cartoon depicting the president sparing the life of a bear cub while hunting

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of teddy bear was in 1905

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Teddy bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teddy%20bear. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

teddy bear

noun
ted·​dy bear ˈted-ē- How to pronounce teddy bear (audio)
: a stuffed toy bear

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