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

The dessert immediately brought me back to childhood birthdays and baking special treats for my family. — Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 July 2026

Bracey of course landed the role of Charles Ingalls in Netflix’s adaptation of Little House, based on Laura Ingalls Widler’s semi-autobiographical novels of her childhood. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 25 July 2026

This suggests that interventions for helping autistic people better understand facial emotions, for example, might be the most effective in earlier childhood when these differences in development first arise. — Isabella Backman, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026

Recalling the biblical knights that danced and fought in Cucinelli’s childhood dreams, the director projects crayon drawings on the rafters above the bed his fictional counterpart (Francesco Cannevale) shares with his cousins. — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 25 July 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