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
During his childhood, Coles lived in six places, including the notorious Cleveland Arms.
—
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Sure, your bowl of Reese’s Puffs might not provide the same nutrition as a homemade frittata, but there’s certainly a time and place to enjoy a few of your childhood favorites.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025
Riffing on celebratory holiday spreads from her childhood, Michelle Ashurov (Reverie Deli) trusses a savory caterpillar with swirling blini, herbed butter, and trout roe.
—Ingu Chen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
The wins have been hard fought, but, fortunately for McLaren, Brown has been bringing plenty of fight for the majority of his 54 years, from a challenging childhood in Southern California to his own competitive career behind the wheel.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childhood
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Dan Pompei, New York Times, 2 Dec. 2025
Sure, your bowl of Reese’s Puffs might not provide the same nutrition as a homemade frittata, but there’s certainly a time and place to enjoy a few of your childhood favorites.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2025
Riffing on celebratory holiday spreads from her childhood, Michelle Ashurov (Reverie Deli) trusses a savory caterpillar with swirling blini, herbed butter, and trout roe.
—Ingu Chen, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Dec. 2025
The wins have been hard fought, but, fortunately for McLaren, Brown has been bringing plenty of fight for the majority of his 54 years, from a challenging childhood in Southern California to his own competitive career behind the wheel.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 1 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for childhood
Cite this Entry
“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childhood. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
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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