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
Examples of childhood in a Sentence
diseases that can occur in childhood
Both men had unhappy childhoods.
Recent Examples on the Web
The movie’s point of view is established with a brief opening voice-over by a woman named Sasha, whose reminiscences of childhood, and of her brother Jeremy, make up the bulk of the film.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed, has died.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
In retirement, he’s gone back to that childhood, mucking the stalls and helping care for a menagerie that includes two horses, 10 mini goats, two mini pigs, a pair of horses and a bunch of chickens and dogs and cats.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Their daughter, Lauren, who has suffered from severe epilepsy since childhood, is a resident at Misericordia, a residential community and Catholic charity of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for childhood
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Richard Brody, New Yorker, 12 Apr. 2026
Bob Hall, a childhood polio survivor who became known as the father of wheelchair racing after twice winning the Boston Marathon and then going on to build racing chairs for the generations of competitors that followed, has died.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
In retirement, he’s gone back to that childhood, mucking the stalls and helping care for a menagerie that includes two horses, 10 mini goats, two mini pigs, a pair of horses and a bunch of chickens and dogs and cats.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Their daughter, Lauren, who has suffered from severe epilepsy since childhood, is a resident at Misericordia, a residential community and Catholic charity of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
—Terry Collins, USA Today, 12 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for childhood
Cite this Entry
“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childhood. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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