childhood

noun

child·​hood ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
Synonyms of childhoodnext
1
: the state or period of being a child
2
: the early period in the development of something

Examples of childhood in a Sentence

diseases that can occur in childhood Both men had unhappy childhoods.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis Demi Moore reminisced about daughters Rumer, Scout and Tallulah Willis and their childhoods with a black-and-white portrait from their early years and a video clip of the women dancing at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in 2025. Kim Willis, USA Today, 11 May 2026 Still, much of the public conversations around education centers on test scores and older students, leaving early childhood largely out of the discussion. Tina Dello Russo, Boston Herald, 10 May 2026 Her childhood, family relationships, and upbringing in the South shape her understanding of her identity as a writer and storyteller. Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 10 May 2026 Imagine a place of employment where everyone in the building is laboring to live out their childhood dream. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 10 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for childhood

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of childhood was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childhood. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

childhood

noun
child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
: the state or time of being a child

Medical Definition

childhood

noun
child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
: the state or period of being a child

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