Playmate
n.joyful, kindeveryday
What it means
A companion, usually another child, who regularly joins in play.
Reach for it when referring to a friendly partner in games or imaginative activity
Nia's playmate turned two cardboard boxes into a moon base.
Choose between these
5- playful
play buddy
in relaxed speech about a child's familiar partner in games
not when Play buddy is informal and may sound patronizing in formal guidance.
- everyday
if the children cooperate on the same side of a structured game
not when Teammate requires team membership and does not cover pretend play.
- warm
when the relationship extends beyond shared play
not when Friend implies a broader bond that a temporary playmate may not share.
- professional
peer
when similar age or status is the relevant relationship
not when Peer says nothing about friendship or playing together.
- literary
for someone who provides company during an activity
not when Companion sounds more general and often more adult than playmate.
Said against
3- rival
- opponent
- loner
It naturally appears in
3- childhood playmate
A childhood playmate remembered the elaborate games they invented.
- favorite playmate
The puppy became the toddler's favorite playmate in the garden.
- new playmate
His new playmate showed him where the building blocks were kept.
Where this comes from
- wiktionary, English noun sense: a companion in play opens in a new tab · retrieved 2026-07-26
The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.