highchair: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Everyday, informal to neutral. Common in domestic, parenting, and retail contexts.
Quick answer
What does “highchair” mean?
A tall chair with long legs, a small seat, and a tray, used for feeding a baby or young child.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall chair with long legs, a small seat, and a tray, used for feeding a baby or young child.
The word is a compound noun referring to a specific piece of childcare furniture. It has no significant metaphorical or extended meanings outside this literal context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term and its referent are identical. Spelling is consistently 'highchair' (as one word) or 'high chair' (as two words) in both varieties, with the compound form being more common in corpus data.
Connotations
None. The word is purely functional with identical connotations.
Frequency
Equally common and necessary in both varieties due to the universal need for the item.
Grammar
How to Use “highchair” in a Sentence
[Verb] + the highchair: buy, use, need, clean, fold, put away, strap (someone) intoVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in retail (baby equipment), manufacturing, and e-commerce product descriptions.
Academic
Rare, except in developmental psychology or design studies concerning child safety.
Everyday
Very common in contexts involving young children and parenting.
Technical
Used in product safety standards and regulations for juvenile products.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “highchair”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “highchair”
- Spelling as two separate words ('high chair') is common and generally acceptable, though dictionaries often list the compound. Confusing it with a 'stool' or a 'booster seat', which lacks a tray and full enclosure.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are commonly used and understood. Dictionaries often list 'highchair' as the headword, but 'high chair' is a frequent variant.
Typically from around 6 months (when a baby can sit up unaided) until about 2-3 years old, when they transition to a regular chair, often with a booster seat.
A highchair is a freestanding piece of furniture with its own legs and usually a tray. A booster seat is placed on top of an existing dining chair to elevate the child, and it may or may not have a small detachable tray.
Modern highchairs are designed to very strict safety standards. Key safety practices include always using the safety straps, ensuring the child is supervised, and not placing the highchair near counters or tables they could push off from.
A tall chair with long legs, a small seat, and a tray, used for feeding a baby or young child.
Highchair is usually everyday, informal to neutral. common in domestic, parenting, and retail contexts. in register.
Highchair: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪ.tʃeə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhaɪ.tʃer/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: a chair that is HIGH so a baby can reach the table. It's a HIGH CHAIR for a small person.
Conceptual Metaphor
Not applicable; the term is a literal compound with no active conceptual metaphor.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary purpose of a highchair?