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Definition of candystriper

candystriper

/ˈkæn.diˌstraɪ.pɚ/
can · dy · stri · per
Plural:candystripers
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candystriper Lexical Profile

candystriper Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A volunteer nurse's aide in a hospital, traditionally a teenage girl wearing a red-and-white striped uniform or apron.

Example

"During high school, she spent her summers working as a candystriper at the local community hospital, delivering flowers and reading to patients."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for candystriper

• Nearby Words

candyfloss
candygram
candyman
candystriper
candytuft
cane
caneberry

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the United States during the 1940s, the term derives from the red-and-white striped pinafores traditionally worn by female youth hospital volunteers, which resembled peppermint candy canes.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Candystriper. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/candystriper
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