Home › Words › P › playcareplaycareplaycare means A daycare for small children structured around play activities; daycare in general as contrasted with typically more structured preschools.EtymologyBlend of play + daycare.nounA daycare for small children structured around play activities; daycare in general as contrasted with typically more structured preschools.e.g.“I think I'll let Liz go back to playcare tomorrow, Annie. She's better now. Still, I'd hate to let her spread that virus around the day care center!” — 1984 June 6, Lynn Johnston, For Better or for Worse (comic):Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).