playground
Playground (noun) means an outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play. Example: “The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the playground.”
How to use playground
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA space — physical or figurative — set aside for free play or experimentation.
Word forms
playgrounds plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the _____.
Etymology
From play + ground, echoing the older Old English pleġstede ("play-place").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for playground
See all rhymes for playground →Frequently asked questions
What does “playground” mean?
The word “playground” means an outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play. In plain terms, a space — physical or figurative — set aside for free play or experimentation.
How do you pronounce “playground”?
“Playground” is pronounced PLAYG-rownd (/ˈpleɪɡɹaʊnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “playground” in a sentence?
Here is “playground” used in a sentence: “The kids raced straight to the swings when we reached the playground.”
What part of speech is “playground”?
“Playground” is a noun.
Where does the word “playground” come from?
The word “playground” comes from Old English. From play + ground, echoing the older Old English pleġstede ("play-place").
Is “playground” a common word?
“Playground” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “playground” have?
“Playground” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an outdoor area, often with swings and slides, set aside for children to play.
What is the difference between a playground and a park?
A playground is a specific outdoor area equipped with items like swings and slides, set aside for children to play. A park is a broader green space that may include a playground alongside other features such as paths, gardens, or open fields.
What does it mean to call something a "playground" figuratively?
Figuratively, calling a place or situation a playground means it offers freedom to act however one likes with little restriction, such as describing an unregulated market as "a playground for speculators." This use extends the idea of a children's play area to any setting with few limits.
What does "playground" mean in a programming context?
In software development, a playground is a sandbox environment used for testing code, often against an API, without affecting live systems. It lets developers experiment safely before deploying changes to production.