youth

noun, often attributive

\ ˈyüth

plural youths\ ˈyüt͟hz

, ˈyüths

Definition of youth

1a : the time of life when one is young especially : the period between childhood and maturity

b : the early period of existence, growth, or development

2a : a young person especially : a young male between adolescence and maturity

b : young persons or creatures —usually plural in construction

3 : the quality or state of being youthful : youthfulness

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about youth

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Synonyms for youth

Synonyms

boy, boychick (or boychik), boyo [Irish], callant [chiefly Scottish], lad, laddie, nipper, shaveling, shaver, sonny, stripling, tad

Examples of youth in a Sentence

She had a troubled youth. He spent his youth in the Midwest. He got into a lot of trouble in his youth. a generation trying to recapture lost youth when the industry was still in its youth Four youths are suspected of starting the fire.

Recent Examples on the Web

The conversation comes in the wake of an NHS study in the U.K., which found that one out of every eight youths aged 5 to 19, who were assessed in 2017, had at least one mental health issue. — Victoria Murphy, Town & Country, "Prince Harry Makes a Strong Statement About How Addictive Social Media Can Be," 3 Apr. 2019 This request falls in line with the IOC's goal of making the Games more youth-focused, gender-balanced, and more urban, Kit McConnell, IOC Sports Director, tells SELF. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "These Are the New Sports We May See at the 2024 Summer Olympics," 27 Feb. 2019 News Popular youth culture magazine The Face is set to re-launch digitally in April, followed by a quarterly print magazine launch in August. — Scarlett Newman, Teen Vogue, "The Youth Culture Magazine That Put Naomi Campbell and Missy Elliot on the Cover Is Relaunching," 1 Apr. 2019 The Youth Side-by-Side Our largest machine was the Polaris Ranger 150 EFI, a youth side-by-side that’s basically like that car Stuart Little drives around in—fully realized transportation for small people. — Ezra Dyer, Popular Mechanics, "The Great Big Youth ATV Test," 25 Mar. 2019 The producer has become known for showcasing the talents of older actresses, in an industry notorious for its obsession with youth. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "The series boasts and all-star cast and a darkly comedic premise.," 25 Mar. 2019 In his youth, the Russian writer Sergei Lebedev worked as a geologist, traveling north on expeditions to the mines and quarries that were abandoned after the fall of the Soviet Union. — Sam Sacks, WSJ, "Fiction: In the Archives of Personal History," 15 Mar. 2019 Today, the Duchess visited the Windsor Park stadium to kick around a soccer ball with two youth charities, dressed in an athletic-yet-stylish look. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Kate Middleton Gets Sporty in a Barbour Jacket, Ralph Lauren Sweater, and Sneakers," 27 Feb. 2019 She and Prince William are currently on a two-day drip to Northern Ireland to honor youth in the region. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kate Middleton Sparkles in a Green Missoni Dress in Ireland," 27 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'youth.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.