English Reference
noun · verb

nanny

n. · v.
US /ˈnæni/ UK /nˈæni/ nan·ny UK spelling nannies

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.a person who is paid to live with a family and take care of their children.

    n.a professional childcare provider employed by a family to care for children in the family's home.

    Simple

    The family hired a nanny to look after the twins while the parents were at work.

    In context

    After the birth of their third child, the couple decided to employ a live-in nanny to manage the demanding daily schedule.

    childmindernursemaid
  2. 02 A2 Elementary Informal

    n.a name that some people use for their grandmother.

    n.a familiar or colloquial term for a grandmother.

    Simple

    We are going to visit Nanny and Grandad this weekend.

    In context

    In many British households, 'Nanny' is the preferred affectionate title for a maternal grandmother, distinguished from 'Granny' on the paternal side.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a female goat.

    n.a female goat, often used in the compound 'nanny goat' to distinguish it from a 'billy goat'.

    Simple

    The farmer kept one nanny goat for milk and several others for breeding.

    In context

    The nanny goat was protective of her kids, bleating loudly whenever the farm dog approached the enclosure.

    doe
    billy goat
  4. 04 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to work as a person who takes care of children.

    v.to perform the duties of a nanny; to provide professional childcare.

    Simple

    She spent her gap year nannying for a family in Paris to improve her French.

    In context

    He supported himself through university by nannying for local families during the summer holidays.

  5. 05 C1 Advanced Informal

    v.to treat someone like a child or protect them too much.

    v.to treat someone in an overprotective or patronising manner, as if they were a small child.

    Simple

    I am an adult and I don't need the government to nanny me.

    In context

    Critics of the new sugar tax argued that the government was attempting to nanny the public instead of encouraging personal responsibility.

    Usage

    often used in political contexts like 'nanny state'

    coddlebabyoverprotect
This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated