Standard Lemma guide

plaything

adj · noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈpleɪ.θɪŋ/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪθɪŋ
  • CMU ARPABET: P L EY1 TH IH2 NG Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Used for the purpose of play or amusement.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A thing or person intended for playing with.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • 1856: Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary, Part III Chapter XI, translated by Eleanor Marx-Aveling The next day Charles had the child brought back. She asked for her mamma. They told her she was away; that she would bring her back some playthings.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: toy

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

A person at the mercy of fate.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

an artifact designed to be played with

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: toy

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: artifact, artefact

Narrower terms: ball, balloon, cockhorse, doll, dolly, dollhouse, doll's house, Frisbee, hobby, hobbyhorse, rocking horse, hula-hoop, jack-in-the-box, jungle gym, jumping jack, kaleidoscope, kite, Lego, Lego set, Meccano, Meccano set, pea shooter, pinata, pinwheel, pinwheel wind collector, playhouse, wendy house, pogo stick, popgun, rattle, sandbox, sandpile, sandpit, seesaw, teeter, teeter-totter, teetertotter, teeterboard, tilting board, dandle board, slide, playground slide, sliding board, slingshot, sling, catapult, stick horse, swing, teddy, teddy bear, top, whirligig, teetotum, spinning top, train set, water pistol, water gun, squirt gun, squirter, yo-yo

History

Etymology

From play + thing.