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

Now, her childhood and family continues to fuel her writing titles that celebrate female empowerment, leadership, and heroes. —Maressa Brown, Parents, 8 Mar. 2026

She is also set to release her memoir, with a title and release date yet to be announced, that chronicles her life, largely ignoring her time on ANTM, instead focusing on her childhood and her family, including her mother, who died in 2022. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2026

Maybe that's from my childhood or from wherever. —Jo Ling Kent, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026

One bite of these soft, chewy cookies will take you back to your childhood. —Patricia S York, Southern Living, 8 Mar. 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