Teddy is a noun with two quite different meanings. It can mean a child’s toy bear, or a woman’s sleevelessHaving no fabric covering the upper arms. undergarmentClothing worn underneath other clothes, close to the body.. The toy meaning is by far the most commonUsed or seen more often than other choices. everyday use.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈtɛdi/
Easy pronunciation: TED-ee (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable: TED-ee.
Use this for the toy bear meaning, not the women’s undergarment sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Teddy Meaning
a toy bear for a child
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a child’s stuffed toy bear
Example: She slept with her teddy every night.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- teddy bear — The standard full term for the toy meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Teddy
Meaning 2
a sleeveless piece of women’s underwear
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a woman's sleeveless undergarment
Example: She wore a silk teddy under the dress.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- chemise — A related garment term, though often broader and not always identical.
- slip — Can overlap in some contexts, but usually refers to a different undergarment.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Teddy Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- teddy bear
a woman's sleeveless undergarment
- chemise
- slip
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People often assume teddy always means the toy bear, but it can also mean a women’s undergarment.
- Do not use teddy bear as a synonym for the underwear sense.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does teddy mean?
Teddy most commonly means a child’s stuffed toy bear. It can also mean a woman’s sleeveless undergarment.
What is teddy a synonym for?
For the toy meaning, teddy is usually linked with teddy bear. For the clothing meaning, it overlaps with words like chemise or slip in some contexts.
Is teddy the same as teddy bear?
Usually, teddy is a shortened, informal way to refer to a teddy bear, especially in speech.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-14. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
