# playground

/ˈpɫeɪˌɡɹaʊn/ (US) · /plˈeɪɡɹaʊnd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/playground
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. children's play area

noun · CEFR A1

an outdoor area where children can play, often with equipment like swings and slides.

For teachers: an outdoor area designated for children's recreation, typically equipped with structures such as slides, swings, and climbing frames.

- The children ran straight to the playground to play on the swings after school.
- The local council invested in a modern playground featuring rubberised safety flooring and inclusive equipment for children of all abilities.

### 2. place for free activity

noun · CEFR B2

a place or situation where people can do what they want and have fun.

For teachers: a metaphorical space or region where a particular group has the freedom to act or enjoy themselves without restriction.

- The tropical island has become a playground for wealthy tourists.
- During the tech boom, the city served as a playground for ambitious entrepreneurs looking to disrupt traditional industries.

Teaching tip: Often used with a possessive, such as 'a playground for the rich'.

### 3. coding environment

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a safe digital space where you can write and test code without breaking anything.

For teachers: a development environment or sandbox that allows programmers to execute code and test API calls in isolation.

- I used the online playground to practice my JavaScript before adding it to my website.
- The platform provides a dedicated playground where developers can experiment with new API endpoints before deploying their applications to production.

Usage: Often used in the context of web development or learning a new programming language.

## Examples

- The children are playing on the swings at the playground.
- The local council recently installed new rubber flooring at the playground to make it safer for toddlers.
- While the primary school's playground remains the heart of the community, the software developers used a digital playground to experiment with the new API without risking the main server.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.