Meaning & use
diapers
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“diapers” is a form of “diaper”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounplural
A thick piece of soft material worn by a baby or young child to catch urine and feces.
Grammar: Always plural when talking about the items in general. For one item, use the singular 'diaper': 'a diaper'.
Patterns
- wear diapers
- change a diaper
- disposable diapers
- cloth diapers
The baby needs his diapers changed.
She packed plenty of diapers for the trip.
Disposable diapers are convenient but create a lot of waste.
nounpluralmedical
A similar absorbent garment worn by an adult who cannot control their bladder or bowels.
Grammar: Used especially in medical or care contexts. Often appears with 'adult' or 'incontinence'.
Patterns
- adult diapers
- incontinence diapers
- wear diapers
The hospital provides adult diapers for patients with limited mobility.
After surgery, he had to wear diapers for a few days.
Word forms
| singular | diaper |
|---|
Common combinations
- change a diaper
- Could you change the baby's diaper while I make dinner?
- disposable diapers
- Disposable diapers are easy to use when traveling.
- cloth diapers
- Cloth diapers are better for the environment but require washing.
- diaper rash
- Diaper rash is common in babies and usually clears up with cream.
- diaper bag
- She always carries a diaper bag with wipes and extra clothes.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nappy
- The usual British word for the same item; use 'nappy' in British English and 'diaper' in American English.
Word family
- diaper noun
- Singular form; one item.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'diapers' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 1 is correct because 'diapers' is a plural noun used with a plural verb and quantity. Option 0 is wrong because 'a' is singular and cannot be used with the plural 'diapers'. Option 2 uses 'diapers' as a verb, which is not standard. Option 3 is grammatically nonsense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “diapers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.