high chair: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Everyday, Informal
Quick answer
What does “high chair” mean?
A tall chair for a baby or young child, typically with a tray and long legs, used during mealtimes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall chair for a baby or young child, typically with a tray and long legs, used during mealtimes.
Any seat specifically designed for a young child to eat at a table, often implying a stage of early childhood development. Can be used metaphorically to refer to this stage of life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or use. Spelling is consistent as 'high chair'.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: infancy, parenting, mealtime, early childhood.
Frequency
Equally common and fundamental in both UK and US domestic vocabulary.
Grammar
How to Use “high chair” in a Sentence
[Subject] puts the baby in the high chair.[Subject] bought a new high chair.The high chair has a safety harness.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “high chair” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A as a verb.
American English
- N/A as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A as an adverb.
American English
- N/A as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- N/A as a pure adjective. Functions attributively in compounds like 'high-chair tray'.
- The high-chair years are busy for parents.
American English
- N/A as a pure adjective. Functions attributively in compounds like 'highchair safety'.
- We're in a high-chair phase with our toddler.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; may appear in retail contexts (e.g., 'Our store sells high chairs and other nursery furniture').
Academic
Rare; may appear in developmental psychology texts discussing infant feeding practices.
Everyday
Primary context. Used by parents, caregivers, in homes, restaurants with family sections, and product reviews.
Technical
Used in product design, safety standards (e.g., ASTM F404 for high chairs), and paediatric guidelines.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “high chair”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “high chair”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “high chair”
- Using as two separate words incorrectly ('highchair' is also an accepted solid form). Confusing with 'high stool' or 'bar stool'. Using for a chair that is simply tall, not for a child.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'highchair' is a common alternative solid spelling, especially in American English. Both 'high chair' and 'highchair' are accepted.
Usually from around 6 months, when they can sit up independently, until about 2-3 years old, when they transition to a regular chair or booster seat.
A high chair is a standalone piece of furniture with its own legs and often a tray. A booster seat sits on top of an existing dining chair to raise the child to table height.
Yes, phrases like 'out of the high chair' can metaphorically mean 'no longer a beginner' or 'grown up', while 'still in a high chair' can imply naivety or inexperience.
A tall chair for a baby or young child, typically with a tray and long legs, used during mealtimes.
High chair is usually everyday, informal in register.
High chair: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪ ˌtʃeə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪ ˌtʃer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “out of the high chair (metaphor for growing up)”
- “still in a high chair (metaphor for being very young or inexperienced)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'HIGH' because it raises the child up to table level; 'CHAIR' because it's a seat. A 'high chair' is a 'high seat for eating'.
Conceptual Metaphor
EARLY CHILDHOOD IS A CONTAINER (e.g., 'He's out of his high chair now.'). PARENTING IS PROVIDING TOOLS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a high chair?