juvenile

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adjective ju·ve·nile \ ˈjü-və-ˌnī(-ə)l , -nᵊl \

Definition of juvenile

1 :physiologically immature or undeveloped :young

juvenile birds

2 a :of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people

juvenile fiction

b :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

See juvenile defined for English-language learners

See juvenile defined for kids

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

Among the function of the San Diego County Office of Education is its responsibility for the education of almost 10,000 students in its juvenile court and alternative community schools.

— gary warth, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Paul Gothold settles in as new head of County Ed Office," 17 Aug. 2017
And that's when the seed was planted for a children's garden at the juvenile court facility at 3200 W. McDonough St. in Joliet.

— susan demar lafferty, Daily Southtown, "CASA's garden helps children in time of stress," 7 Aug. 2017
The male purple martin chooses the most juvenile-looking and least threatening tenant.

— ben crair, Bloomberg.com, "The Secret Economic Lives of Animals," 1 Aug. 2017
Animal control removed three juvenile raccoons from a trash bin and released them in the area.

— Washington Post, "Fairfax County Animal Watch," 27 July 2017
People reported that the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrest, and that both juveniles are being held at a juvenile detention center in Illinois.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Illinois Teen Charged With First-Degree Murder for Death of Mother," 13 July 2017
Investigators were contacted by the juvenile girls' parents who believed their daughters were possibly involved, the Fire Marshal's Office said.

— allan vought, The Aegis, "Damage from Joppatowne playground fire estimated at $40,000, county says," 30 June 2017
The younger brother was placed on home detention, while Judge Joseph Bugos ordered that the older boy remain in juvenile detention, prosecutors said.

— clifford ward, Wheaton Glen Ellyn, "Warrenville teens gave pot to their 5-year-old nephew, prosecutors say," 29 June 2017
Expunging juvenile records: Senate Bill 195 establishes a process for expunging felonies from someone's juvenile court record.

— morgan watkins, The Courier-Journal, "From charter schools to nuclear power plants, slew of new Kentucky laws in effect Thursday," 28 June 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1625

See Words from the same year

juvenile Synonyms

Synonyms

adolescent, immature, young, youngish, youthful

Antonyms

adult, grown-up, mature, matured

Related Words

ephebic, minor, preteen, subadult, teenage (or teenaged), underage; embryonic, emergent; callow, green, inexperienced, puerile, raw; babyish, childish, childlike, infantile, infantine, kiddish; undeveloped, unfinished, unfledged, unformed, unripe, unripened; blooming, blossoming, burgeoning, flourishing, flowering

Near Antonyms

aged, aging (or ageing), ancient, elderly, geriatric, long-lived, old, older, oldish, senescent, senior; full-blown, full-fledged; golden, mellow, ripe, ripened; middle-aged; anile, decrepit, doddering, over-the-hill, senile, spavined, tottery

juvenile

noun

Definition of juvenile

1 a :a young person :youth

a gang of juveniles

b :a book for children or young people

2 :a young individual resembling an adult of its kind except in size and reproductive activity: such as

a :a fledged bird not yet in adult plumage

b :a 2-year-old racehorse

3 :an actor or actress who plays youthful parts

See juvenile defined for English-language learners

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

Jose Vincent-Sosa, 20, and Edwin Dinarte Moreno, 18, both of Alexandria, along with a female juvenile, were arrested, police said.

— justin jouvenal, Washington Post, "Body found in Nokesville is missing Fairfax County teen," 24 Aug. 2017
Morgan said the juvenile appeared to be about 15 years old.

— toriano porter, kansascity, "KCK neighborhood quiet after juvenile shot, killed Thursday on North Tremont Street," 17 Aug. 2017
According to Lansing police, Mason's contact with Brunson, 15, started after a caller told a police dispatcher at about 3:45 p.m. June 24 that about 30 juveniles were fighting near the officer's home.

— gerald porter jr., Daily Southtown, "Lawsuit filed against Lansing cop seen threatening black teen's life during altercation on Facebook," 3 Aug. 2017
Police said Nakita Ashley Davis, 27, of Baltimore; Stacy Ernest Jones Jr., 28, of Gwynn Oak; Kraig Kaeon-Alain Lynch, 27, of Hollywood, Fla.; and a male juvenile, 13, were all charged with drug possession.

— andrew michaels, Howard County Times, "Attempted shoplifting at Ellicott City Walmart leads to drug bust," 17 July 2017
People reported that the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the arrest, and that both juveniles are being held at a juvenile detention center in Illinois.

— ella ceron, Teen Vogue, "Illinois Teen Charged With First-Degree Murder for Death of Mother," 13 July 2017
The other three accused were juveniles, two of whom were 15 and 17 years old, according to an arrest citation.

— thomas novelly, The Courier-Journal, "Teens accused of stealing over $361,000 in cars," 12 July 2017
Riley's criminal history includes an arrest as a juvenile in South Bend for three counts of child molesting, Chivers said.

— ruth ann krause, Post-Tribune, "Gary man sentenced to 91 years in woman's shooting death," 11 July 2017
The person could be an abuse victim, a confidential witness whose life or job would be endangered, a source promised anonymity or a juvenile.

— Bloomberg.com, "CNN Faces Backlash Over Handling of Doctored Trump Video," 5 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of juvenile

see ¹juvenile

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1733

See Words from the same year

juvenile Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

adult, grown-up

Related Words

adolescent, minor; kindergartner (also kindergartener), preschooler, rug rat [slang], schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid; babe, baby, bantling, infant, neonate, nestling, newborn, toddler, tot, tyke (also tike), weanling; brat, devil, hellion, imp, jackanapes, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper; cherub; preteen, preteen-ager, subteen, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween; lad, nipper, shaver, stripling, tad; bobby-soxer, hoyden, tomboy

Near Antonyms

middle-ager; ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

JUVENILE Defined for English Language Learners

juvenile

play

adjective

Definition of juvenile for English Language Learners

: unpleasantly childish
: relating to or meant for young people
: of or relating to young people who have committed crimes

juvenile

noun

Definition of juvenile for English Language Learners

: a young person : a person who is not yet old enough to be legally considered an adult
: a young bird or animal

JUVENILE Defined for Kids

juvenile

play

adjective ju·ve·nile \ ˈjü-və-ˌnīl , -və-nᵊl \

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

juvenile

noun

Definition of juvenile for Students

:a young person :youth

Medical Dictionary

juvenile

play

adjective ju·ve·nile \ ˈjü-və-ˌnīl , -vən-ᵊl \

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

noun

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

noun ju·ve·nile \ ˈjü-və-ˌnīl, -nəl \

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

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juvenile

Definition of juvenile for English Language Learners

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juvenile

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Law Dictionary

juvenile

legal Definition of juvenile

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