A plaything is any object used for play or amusement. Your stuffed animals, action figures, board games, and sports equipment are all playthings.

While plaything and toy mean almost the same thing, plaything has a slightly old-fashioned feel. You might read in a classic novel about a child's playthings scattered across the floor, or hear someone describe building blocks as “simple playthings that spark creativity.”

The word also has a more serious meaning: when someone becomes another person's plaything, they're being treated like an object for amusement rather than a person deserving respect. If a bully treats a younger student like a plaything, they're manipulating or toying with them for entertainment. This usage reveals something important: playthings are meant to be controlled, which is fine for actual toys but wrong when applied to people.