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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One buyer spent $147 and received a Labubu-style teddy bear reportedly worth around $20. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026 One buyer paid $147 and received a Labubu-style teddy bear that allegedly retailed for around $20. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2026 Memorials, which included balloons, teddy bears and candles, were set up outside of Parkview Elementary, where Peters went to school, and on a bridge near where her body was found, CBS Minnesota reported. — Cole Premo, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026 The teddy bears, the stumbling answers, the whole morning in the Cotillion was a mess. — Noah Shachtman, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 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

Rhymes for teddy bear

See All Rhymes for teddy bear

Browse Nearby Words

teddy
teddy bear
teddy boy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Teddy bear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teddy%20bear. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

teddy bear

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

More from Merriam-Webster on teddy bear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about teddy bear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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