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Definition of juvenile
1 : physiologically immature or undeveloped : young juvenile birds
2a : of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people juvenile fictionb : of or relating to young people who have committed or are accused of committing a criminal offense the juvenile justice system juvenile crime
3 : reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity : childish juvenile behavior juvenile pranks told him he was being juvenile
4 : derived from sources within the earth and coming to the surface for the first time —used especially of water and gas
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Examples of juvenile in a Sentence
She criticized his juvenile behavior at the party.
a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg
Recent Examples of juvenile from the Web
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The younger brother was placed on home detention, while Judge Joseph Bugos ordered that the older boy remain in juvenile detention, prosecutors said.
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Expunging juvenile records: Senate Bill 195 establishes a process for expunging felonies from someone's juvenile court record.
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Michael Gibson, 32, has been charged with receiving pornography depicting children and sending images of a juvenile younger than 16.
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After high school, Jacob Ewing was employed as a security guard at a juvenile detention center in Topeka and, later, in maintenance at a Holton food manufacturer.
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Torres was held without bond following a brief arraignment Monday in Fairfax County juvenile court.
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Deputy D.A.’s who didn’t pursue harsh enough sentences or lost too often at trial were exiled to the age-old prosecutor doghouse: juvenile court.
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The boy was released to his parents pending a hearing in juvenile court, police said.
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WILMINGTON, Del. — A 17-year-old Delaware girl has been sentenced to 6 months in a juvenile facility for a school bathroom attack that left a 16-year-old classmate dead.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'juvenile'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of juvenile
French or Latin; French juvénile, from Latin juvenilis, from juvenis young person — more at young
juvenile
Definition of juvenile
1a : a young person : youth a gang of juvenilesb : a book for children or young people
2 : a young individual resembling an adult of its kind except in size and reproductive activity: such asa : a fledged bird not yet in adult plumageb : a 2-year-old racehorse
3 : an actor or actress who plays youthful parts
Examples of juvenile in a Sentence
She works to keep juveniles away from drugs.
a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood
Recent Examples of juvenile from the Web
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Will County Judge Paula Gomora remanded the juvenile to the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center until his next court date in June.
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After maturing for 11 to 14 days, the juvenile is ready to swim back to the reef and select an anemone to call home.
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Costa Mesa police officers detained 43 people — 34 adults and nine juveniles — early Saturday after breaking up a large rave party in an unoccupied commercial building.
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The detention center also does not have enough space to separate juveniles charged as adults by sight and sound, a separation required by federal law.
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The research center cultured the mussels on-site by helping them grow them from larvae nearly impossible to see without a microscope to juveniles.
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A judge ruled last year that the assailant would be charged as a juvenile, sparing her the possibility of going to prison for up to eight years.
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The period from egg to juvenile toad normally takes around 30 days — unless, that is, the pond dries out first, killing the entire brood.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'juvenile'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of juvenile
see 1juvenile
JUVENILE Defined for English Language Learners
juvenile
playDefinition of juvenile for English Language Learners
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: unpleasantly childish
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: relating to or meant for young people
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: of or relating to young people who have committed crimes
juvenile
Definition of juvenile for English Language Learners
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: a young person : a person who is not yet old enough to be legally considered an adult
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: a young bird or animal
JUVENILE Defined for Kids
Definition of juvenile for Students
1 : not fully grown or developed a juvenile bird
2 : of or designed for young people a juvenile magazine
3 : having or showing a lack of emotional maturity juvenile pranks
Medical Dictionary
Medical Definition of juvenile
1: physiologically immature or undeveloped juvenile fish
2: of, relating to, characteristic of, or affecting children or young people juvenile arthritis
3: reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity juvenile behavior
juvenile
Medical Definition of juvenile
1: a young person; especially : one below the legally established age (as of 18) of adulthood
2: a young individual resembling an adult of its kind except in size and reproductive activity
Law Dictionary
juvenile
Legal Definition of juvenile
: an individual who is under an age fixed by law (as 18 years) at which he or she would be charged as an adult for a criminal act — compare minor
Learn More about juvenile
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for juvenile Spanish Central: Translation of juvenile Nglish: Translation of juvenile for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of juvenile for Arabic speakers
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