childhood

noun

child·​hood ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌhu̇d 

1

: the state or period of being a child

2

: the early period in the development of something

Synonyms of childhood

• youth
• adolescence

Examples of childhood in a Sentence

diseases that can occur in childhood

Both men had unhappy childhoods.

Recent Examples on the Web

Meghan Markle shared images from her family’s recent visit to the United Kingdom, including a stop at Althorp House, Lady Diana’s childhood home. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 15 Aug. 2026

The selection also includes more experimental films, as well as stories centered on childhood – an unusual focus to date for Mexican feature filmmaking. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026

Born to Mary Florence Webb, a nurse, and John Sherman Heilmann, a civil engineer, Heilmann split her childhood between the Bay Area and, after her father took a job building freeways, Los Angeles, by way of El Segundo, a seaside village nearby. — Harrison Jacobs, ARTnews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

The entire day was a family affair as the wedding took place at her childhood home. — Skyler Trepel, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing childhood

• childhood friend
• second childhood

Rhymes for childhood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood
• falsehood

Kids Definition

childhood

noun

child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d 

: the state or time of being a child

Medical Definition

childhood

noun

child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d 

: the state or period of being a child