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

The 2008 financial crisis served as an economic backdrop to their childhoods and a bleak job market, outlooked even bleaker thanks to AI, is their current reality. —Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 7 June 2026

In some cases, teachers lost their licenses decades after the offense occurred because an adult victim came forward about prior childhood abuse, the records showed. —Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 7 June 2026

Sheehan’s earliest childhood memories were spent watching her mom mix and whisk up pastries from biscuits to pavlovas. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 7 June 2026

Studies have linked childhood obesity, especially before age 2, with elevated asthma risks. —Dr. Daniel Digiacomo, Boston Herald, 7 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