nanny

nanny — noun

1. a person paid to look after the children of a specific household, often living w

1.nounB1
Definition

a person paid to look after the children of a specific household, often living with the family

Example

The Wang family hired a full-time nanny to help with their three young children.

collocation: hire a nanny

Salma has worked as a nanny for the same family in Taipei for six years.

present perfect: has worked as a nanny for [period]

Common collocations
  • hire a nanny
  • work as a nanny
  • live-in nanny
  • full-time nanny
  • nanny for [family]
Synonyms
  • childminder

    more common in British English; often refers to someone who looks after children in their own home rather than the child's home

  • babysitter

    hired for short, occasional periods rather than regular, long-term care

  • au pair

    a young person from abroad who lives with a family and helps with childcare in exchange for room and board, usually part-time

Grammar Patterns

nanny + for + family / child

Usage Note

A nanny typically works for one family on a regular schedule, which distinguishes this job from a babysitter who is hired for short, occasional periods.

Common Mistakes

We need a nanny to watch the kids for two hours this evening.
We need a babysitter to watch the kids for two hours this evening.
A nanny works regularly for a family; a babysitter is hired for short, one-time jobs.

2. a word used by children to call or refer to their grandmother

2.nounA2
Definition

a word used by children to call or refer to their grandmother

Example

"Can Nanny read me a bedtime story?" the little girl asked her mother.

capitalised as a family name for grandmother

Nala loves spending weekends at her nanny's house, where they bake cookies together.

Common collocations
  • call someone Nanny
  • visit Nanny
  • Nanny's house
Synonyms
  • grandma

    the most common informal term for grandmother across registers

  • gran

    common in British English, especially in northern England and Scotland

  • granny

    warm, affectionate term; slightly more old-fashioned than 'grandma'

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

often capitalised when used as a name

Usage Note

In this sense, the word often functions like a proper name within a family and is capitalised. Distinguish from sense 1 (CHILD CARE JOB), where 'nanny' refers to a paid caregiver rather than a family relative.

Idioms

the nanny state

idiom

A government that controls people too much by making many rules to protect them, which some people think is bad.

Maya thinks the new bike helmet law is just the nanny state interfering.

Does the nanny state really need to tell us what to eat?

Word family

  • nannying
    nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe someone who looks after children, but they differ in work arrangements. A nanny works regularly for one family, often living in or coming daily, and provides consistent, long-term care. A babysitter is hired for short, occasional periods — typically an evening or a few hours — and may work for many different families. In British English, a childminder looks after children in their own home (not the child's home) and is usually registered with local authorities. An au pair is a young person from another country who lives with a host family, helps with childcare part-time, and receives pocket money rather than a full wage. For example: 'Their nanny has been with them for three years.' 'We found a babysitter for Friday night.' 'The childminder picked the kids up from school.' 'Their French au pair helps with the children in the mornings.'

nanny ↗babysitter ↗childminderau pair

Etymology

nursery EnglishEnglish

The word 'nanny' comes from the child's word 'nana', used since the 1500s as a nursery term for 'grandmother'. By the late 1700s, the meaning had shifted to include a child's nurse or caregiver — likely because grandmothers commonly helped raise their grandchildren. The two senses (grandmother and caregiver) have coexisted ever since, though the 'grandmother' sense is now mostly limited to British and Commonwealth English.