youth

youth

noun, often attributive \ˈyüth\

plural youths \ˈyüthz, ˈyüths\

Definition of YOUTH

1

a : the time of life when one is young; especially : the period between childhood and maturity

b : the early period of existence, growth, or development

2

a : a young person; especially : a young male between adolescence and maturity

b : young persons or creatures —usually plural in construction

3

: the quality or state of being youthful : youthfulness

Examples of YOUTH

1. She had a troubled youth.
2. He spent his youth in the Midwest.
3. He got into a lot of trouble in his youth.
4. a generation trying to recapture lost youth
5. when the industry was still in its youth
6. Four youths are suspected of starting the fire.

Origin of YOUTH

Middle English youthe, from Old English geoguth; akin to Old English geong young — more at young

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to YOUTH

Synonyms

boychick (or boychik), boyo [Irish], callant [chiefly Scottish], lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad, boy

Antonyms

adult, grown-up

Related Words

adolescent, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, minor, moppet, teenager, tween, youngling, youngster; brat, gamin, guttersnipe, hobbledehoy, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper; schoolboy; toddler, tot, tyke (also tike); mama's boy, mollycoddle

Near Antonyms

middle-ager; ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

Rhymes with YOUTH

booth, couth, crwth, routh, ruth, scouth, sleuth, sooth, tooth, truth, Truth