child

noun, often attributive \ ˈchī(-ə)ld \

Updated on: 12 May 2018

Definition of child

plural children play \ˈchil-drən, -dərn\

1 a : an unborn or recently born person

b dialect : a female infant

2 a : a young person especially between infancy and youth

a play for both children and adults

b : a childlike or childish person

He is a child in most business matters.

c : a person not yet of age

Under the law she is still a child.

3 usually childe play \ˈchī(-ə)ld\ , archaic : a youth of noble birth

4 a : a son or daughter of human parents

Do you have any children?

b : descendant

the children of Israel

5 : one strongly influenced by another or by a place or state of affairs

a child of the streets

a child of nature

America has been called "the first child of the Enlightenment"

6 : product, result

barbed wire … is truly a child of the plains
—W. P. Webb

—

childless

play \ˈchī(-ə)l(d)-ləs\ adjective

—

childlessness

noun

— with child

: pregnant

See child defined for English-language learners

See child defined for kids

Examples of child in a Sentence

the birth of a child
She's pregnant with their first child.
a play for both children and adults
All of their children are grown now.
an elderly couple and their adult children
Men are such children sometimes.

Recent Examples of child from the Web

In one case, a man accused of raping a child was deported — essentially set free in his home country — instead of facing trial.

— Washington Post, "Legal limbo: US denies immigrant suspects their day in court," 10 May 2018
The nation’s forefather craft brewery, Anchor Brewing, belonged to Fritz Maytag, who, like John Hall, was a child of means from small‐town Iowa.

— josh noel, chicagotribune.com, "How Goose Island sale to Anheuser-Busch changed craft beer; new book by Tribune beer writer Josh Noel," 9 May 2018
The pressure of providing for a small child catapulted me into action.

— danielle young, The Root, "Black Mamas Work: 6 Career-Driven Moms Share Their Messy Lessons, Wins and Fears of Raising Black Kids," 9 May 2018
They were charged last week with scheme to defraud and endangering the welfare of a child.

— scooby axson, SI.com, "Parents Fake Son's Cancer For Donations, Syracuse Football Team Visit," 8 May 2018
His mother, Elizabeth Woolheater, 22, and her boyfriend, 25-year-old Lucas Diel, are being held in Sedgwick County jail on suspicion of murder and endangering a child.

— Fox News, "Attorney: Kansas agency knew of abuse before boy's death," 8 May 2018
The Cayuga County Sheriff's Office says Martin and Jolene LaFrance, of Port Byron, were charged with scheme to defraud, a felony, and endangering the welfare of a child on Friday.

— CBS News, "Couple faked son's cancer, took in thousands, police say," 8 May 2018
One of the accused, Wilson Velez, 33, of Newington, also faces charges connected to using a child to process drugs.

— nicholas rondinone, courant.com, "Sweeping Drug Indictment Hits Alleged Latin King Members, Associates," 8 May 2018
Diana Taylor also is charged with involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child.

— joseph a. gambardello, Philly.com, "Philadelphia mother charged in death of her 2-year-old," 8 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'child.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Is the word kid slang?

Some people worry that kid, when used of a child rather than a juvenile goat, is either slang or too colloquial to merit acceptance in standard English.

The fact is that we have been using kid to refer to a child that is human, rather than goatish, for more than three hundred years now. The Oxford English Dictionary notes that although this word was considered “low slang” when it first began being used, it had entered “familiar speech” by the 19th century.

In contemporary English, kid is neither slang nor improper. It is, however, most definitely informal, so those writing professionally or in a formal register might prefer to use child.

Origin and Etymology of child

Middle English, from Old English cild; akin to Goth kilthei womb, and perhaps to Sanskrit jaṭhara belly

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

child Synonyms

Child

biographical name \ ˈchī(-ə)ld \

Definition of Child

Francis James 1825–1896 American ballad editor

Child

biographical name

Definition of Child

Julia (Carolyn) 1912–2004 née McWilliams American chef

CHILD Defined for English Language Learners

child

noun

Definition of child for English Language Learners

: a young person
: a son or daughter
: an adult who acts like a child : a childlike or childish person

CHILD Defined for Kids

child

noun \ ˈchīld \

Definition of child for Students

plural children \ˈchil-drən\

1 : an unborn or recently born person

2 : a young person of either sex between infancy and youth

3 : a son or daughter of any age

My children are grown now.

Medical Dictionary

child

noun \ ˈchī(ə)ld \

medical Definition of child

plural children play \ˈchil-drən, -dərn\

1 : an unborn or recently born person

2 : a young person especially between infancy and youth

— with child

: pregnant

Law Dictionary

child

noun

legal Definition of child

plural children

1 : a son or daughter of any age and usually including one formally adopted — compare issue

Note: The word child as used in a statute or will is often held to include a stepchild, an illegitimate child, a person for whom one stands in loco parentis, or sometimes a more remote descendant, such as a grandchild. In interpreting the word child as used in a will, the court will try to effectuate the intent of the person who made the will as it can be determined from the language of the will.

2 : a person below an age specified by law : infant, minor

assault on a child under 16 years of age

— compare adult

Note: A person who is below the statutory age but is married will usually be considered an adult.

Learn More about child

See words that rhyme with child Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for child Spanish Central: Translation of child Nglish: Translation of child for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of child for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about child

Seen and Heard

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child

Definition of child

childless

childlessness

Examples of child in a Sentence

Recent Examples of child from the Web

Is the word kid slang?

Origin and Etymology of child

child Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Child

Definition of Child

Child

Definition of Child

Phrases Related to CHILD

Related Phrases

CHILD Defined for English Language Learners

child

Definition of child for English Language Learners

CHILD Defined for Kids

child

Definition of child for Students

Medical Dictionary

child

medical Definition of child

Law Dictionary

child

legal Definition of child

Learn More about child

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