Crib vs. Cot
For the small barred bed used by a baby or young child, “crib” is the US term and “cot” is the UK term.
For the small barred bed used by a baby or young child, “crib” is the US term and “cot” is the UK term.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| baby bed in US English | crib | Use the US term for this sense. |
| baby bed in UK English | cot | Use the UK term for this sense. |
| another sense of “crib” or “cot” is intended | follow that sense, not the baby-bed equivalence | The regional equivalence is limited to the baby-bed meaning. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you referring to the small barred bed used by a baby or young child?
If yes: Choose “crib” for US English and “cot” for UK English.
If no: Check the separate meanings of the two words instead.
Caveat: The equivalence applies to the baby-bed sense only; both words have other meanings.
Examples
The baby is asleep in the crib.
This is the US baby-bed term.
The baby is asleep in the cot.
This is the UK baby-bed term.
The US product page calls it a crib.
The vocabulary follows the target variety.
Further guidance
Core difference
For the small barred bed used by a baby or young child, “crib” is the US term and “cot” is the UK term.
Fast Test
Choose the term that matches both the intended sense and the audience or register described by the dictionaries.
Usage Boundary
The equivalence is limited to the baby-bed sense; “cot” also has other regional senses and “crib” has other meanings.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Crib — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Authority used to verify the public wording and usage boundary.
- Cot — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Authority used to verify the public wording and usage boundary.