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

Synonyms of childhood

• youth
• adolescence

Examples of childhood in a Sentence

diseases that can occur in childhood

Both men had unhappy childhoods.

Recent Examples on the Web

Creator Celeste Hughey’s adaptation of the Tom Hanks movie stars Keke Palmer as Samira Fisher, an attorney and new mother who recently relocated to her husband’s suburban childhood home. —Whitney Friedlander, Variety, 14 June 2026

This could be an artifact of childhood trauma. —Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 14 June 2026

Fikile Sithole, who was raised by her gogo from the age of 7, says there was no more important person in her childhood. —Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 14 June 2026

McConnell, a childhood polio survivor, has faced several health scares in recent years. —Alan He, CBS News, 14 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing childhood

• childhood friend
• second childhood

Rhymes for childhood

• allgood
• basswood
• beechwood
• bellwood
• birchwood
• boxwood
• boyhood
• brushwood
• cordwood
• dogwood
• driftwood
• falsehood

Kids 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