noun

sandpit

SAND-pit

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Sandpit (noun) means a hollow in the ground where sand is dug out. Example: “The old sandpit on the edge of the village has been disused for years.”

noun

A hollow in the ground where sand is dug out.

"The old sandpit on the edge of the village has been disused for years."

"Lorries came and went from the sandpit all morning, loading up sand for the building site."

A shallow container filled with sand for children to play in.

"The toddlers spent the whole afternoon digging in the sandpit."

"We bought a wooden sandpit for the garden so the kids have somewhere to play."

"She brushed the sand off her knees after climbing out of the sandpit."

How to use sandpit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pit or container full of sand, either for digging sand out of the ground or for children to play in.

When to use it

Sandpit is everyday, informal vocabulary rather than a technical term.

Memory tip

Sandbox is a useful synonym to know for the children's play area sense of sandpit.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

dig in the sandpit fill the sandpit play in the sandpit a disused sandpit

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “sandpit” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old _____ on the edge of the village has been disused for years.

Etymology

Sandpit comes from Middle English forms such as sandpitte, which in turn go back to Old English sandpytt. That older word was simply a combination of sand and pytt, meaning pit, so the word has always described a pit of sand.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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sandbox sandpile

Related words

playground sandbox

Frequently asked questions

What is a sandpit?

A sandpit is either a pit dug to extract sand or, more commonly today, a container of sand for children to play in.

Is sandpit the same as sandbox?

For the children's play area, yes, sandpit and sandbox mean the same thing.

Where does the word sandpit come from?

It comes from Old English sandpytt, a straightforward joining of the words sand and pit.

What is the meaning of sandpit?

"sandpit" (noun) means a hollow in the ground where sand is dug out.

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