noun

plaything

PLAY-thihng

Plaything (noun) means an object, or sometimes a person, used purely for amusement. Example: “The cat treats every loose thread as a plaything.”

noun

An object, or sometimes a person, used purely for amusement.

"The cat treats every loose thread as a plaything."

"He refused to be treated as her plaything."

Someone at the mercy of forces beyond their control.

"The sailors felt like playthings of the storm."

How to use plaything

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishSomething (or, less kindly, someone) used only for entertainment.

Word forms

playthings plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The cat treats every loose thread as a _____.

Etymology

From play + thing.

Synonyms

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toy

Related words

play toy fiddle whim trifle

Rhymes for plaything

anything everything

See all rhymes for plaything →

Frequently asked questions

What does “plaything” mean?

The word “plaything” means an object, or sometimes a person, used purely for amusement. In plain terms, something (or, less kindly, someone) used only for entertainment.

How do you pronounce “plaything”?

“Plaything” is pronounced PLAY-thihng (/ˈpleɪ.θɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “plaything” in a sentence?

Here is “plaything” used in a sentence: “The cat treats every loose thread as a plaything.”

What part of speech is “plaything”?

“Plaything” is a noun.

How many meanings does “plaything” have?

“Plaything” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an object, or sometimes a person, used purely for amusement.

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play toy fiddle whim trifle