child

noun, often attributive

\ ˈchī(-ə)ld

plural children\ ˈchil-drən

, -dərn \

Definition of child

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : an unborn or recently born person

b dialect : a female infant

2a : 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 \ ˈchī(-ə)ld

\, archaic : a youth of noble birth

4a : 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

with child

: pregnant

Child

biographical name (1)

\ ˈchī(-ə)ld

Definition of Child (Entry 2 of 3)

Francis James 1825–1896 American ballad editor

Child

biographical name (2)

Definition of Child (Entry 3 of 3)

Julia (Carolyn) 1912–2004 née McWilliams American chef

Other Words from child Synonyms & Antonyms Is the word kid slang? More Example Sentences Learn More about child

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Synonyms & Antonyms for child

Synonyms: Noun

bairn [chiefly Scottish], bambino, bud, chap [Southern & Midland], chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie (also kiddy), kiddo, moppet, sprat, sprout, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth

Antonyms: Noun

adult, grown-up

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.

Examples of child in a Sentence

Noun

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 on the Web: Noun

Mitsotakis steps out of his car and switches into casual campaigning mode, crouching to chat to children, greeting young men with an arm-wrestle handshake, hugging pensioners, and using his height to snap cellphone photos. — Washington Post, "Greek election front runner keeps campaign unusually low-key," 5 July 2019 Kirsch's three children, who were also in the Civic, were treated for injuries at Delray Medical Center. — Sabrina Lolo, sun-sentinel.com, "Man faces charges in drunk driving crash that killed mother of 3," 4 July 2019 About 20% of Oklahoma’s population, more than two-thirds of them children, is enrolled in Medicaid. — USA TODAY, "Robot hostesses, veggie booze, ‘civil death’: News from around our 50 states," 4 July 2019 Andrew Milonis, 46, is accused in the Mother’s Day 2017 crash that killed 29-year-old Jessica Foderingham and her unborn child, a girl who Foderingham and her husband planned to name Ayanna. — Ramona Sentinel, "Trial starts in crash that killed pregnant woman," 3 July 2019 Pehr: This stylish children’s brand is offering 25 percent off everything with a pom pom on it (fun!) from 7/4 through 7/7. — Jenny Xie, Curbed, "All the best 4th of July sales to shop this week," 3 July 2019 Francharia Williams and the children, ranging in age from seven months to four years old, were crossing Pine Hills Road near El Trio Way in a marked crosswalk when they were hit by a vehicle around 10 p.m., which kept driving, FHP Lt. — Stephen Ruiz, orlandosentinel.com, "Woman, 4 kids injured in hit-and-run crash in Pine Hills, FHP says," 2 July 2019 But the mother of three children, ages 9 and younger, worries that won’t last long. — Shari Rudavsky, Indianapolis Star, "State calls new rules 'Gateway to Work.' Activists call them a 'poverty trap.'," 1 July 2019 Franklin is also charged with the aggravated rapes of two other children, a boy and a girl, during the same time period. — Michelle Hunter, nola.com, "New suspect named in 1978 abduction, murder of 5-year-old Stephanie Hebert," 29 June 2019

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.

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More Definitions for child

child

noun

English Language Learners Definition of child

: a young person

: a son or daughter

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

See the full definition for child in the English Language Learners Dictionary

child

noun

\ ˈchīld

plural children\ ˈchil-drən \

Kids Definition of child

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.

child

noun

\ ˈchī(ə)ld

plural children\ ˈchil-drən, -dərn

Medical Definition of child

1 : an unborn or recently born person

2 : a young person especially between infancy and youth

with child

: pregnant

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child

noun

plural children

Legal Definition of child

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.