childhood

noun

ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
Definition of childhoodnext
as in youth
the state or time of being a child enjoy your childhood—it won't last forever

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of childhood The Queens, New York native played baseball throughout her childhood as the only girl on almost all of her teams. — Marisa Ingemi, Mercury News, 27 July 2026 Our divorced mom apparently stole and kept some of my childhood journals. — R. Eric Thomas, Washington Post, 27 July 2026 The surge has come amid a backdrop of drastic changes to childhood vaccinations. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 27 July 2026 John Cena stars as a former soldier turned spy named Sean Walker who decides to reunite with his childhood Matchbox car-loving friends, played by Jessica Biel, Sam Richardson, Teyonah Parris, and Arturo Castro. — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for childhood
Recent Examples of Synonyms for childhood
  1. youth
  2. adolescence
Noun
  • The course is now part of First Tee — Greater Kansas City, a youth organization that uses golf to build character, strength, confidence and resilience.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • The campaign has taken the protests demanding accountability and education reforms beyond the streets, broadening its reach and intensifying pressure on a government wary of appearing to yield to a rapidly growing youth movement.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 July 2026
Definition of youth
Noun
  • Most parents can expect at least some developmental pushback in the toddler years or early adolescence.
    — Jillian Pretzel, Parents, 25 July 2026
  • The Culture Wars—which used to refer very specifically to the time my book covers, the 1980s and 1990s—that’s my adolescence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
Definition of adolescence

Phrases Containing childhood

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childbirths
childhood
childish
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Cite this Entry

“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/childhood. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on childhood

Nglish: Translation of childhood for Spanish Speakers

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