child

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

|Updated on: 9 Jun 2018

Examples: child in a Sentence

Editor's Note: Is the word kid slang?

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

The event raised $47,600 in support of the mission of Benedictine to help children and adults with developmental disabilities.

— baltimoresun.com, "Digest: Redskins replacement players to receive Super Bowl rings," 6 June 2018
More than 20 people, mostly women and children have been abducted for ransom in recent months in the country.

— bukola adebayo, CNN, "Uganda activists dump coffins outside parliament to protest murders," 6 June 2018
With a graphic displaying how much money Congress spends to protect itself, Barletta, who is running for the U.S. Senate, called on Congress to act immediately to protect children and teachers.

— lasherica thornton, Philly.com, "In Pa., a flurry of school safety bills. Action? Not much yet," 6 June 2018
Six children were hurt Monday when the woman's car hit their SUV on South Tryon Street at Tyvola Centre Drive, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said.

— joe marusak, charlotteobserver, "Driver who cops say slammed into SUV full of kids in south Charlotte charged with DWI," 6 June 2018
All the festivals have children's areas with special entertainment and activities for the little ones.

— amy schwabe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "10 reasons to take your kids to these 10 Milwaukee summer festivals," 6 June 2018
Dugan pushed Kim and Kyle to become child stars at young ages.

— refinery29.com, "This Show Is Based On The Childhood Of A Real Housewife Of Beverly Hills," 6 June 2018
There’s also a kids’ menu (children 10 and under eat free on Tuesdays) and wine and beer, too.

— celestina blok, star-telegram, "Restaurant roundup: Bartaco in WestBend, Newk's up north and deals for Dad's day," 6 June 2018
Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction is teaming up with the national nonprofit Partnership for Drug-Free Kids to provide free resources and advice to parents whose adolescent or adult children are struggling with addiction.

— felice j. freyer, BostonGlobe.com, "Boston Medical Center establishes a lifeline for parents of addicted teens, adults," 6 June 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