childhood

noun

child·​hood ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
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
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.
My character, Valya, is driven by something that happened to her as a young woman and the unhappiness of her childhood. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024 Melania’s Be Best initiative was supposed to promote childhood well-being and to curb bullying. Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 The company, which went public on the New York Stock Exchange on Oct. 9, is the largest provider of early childhood education services in the U.S., with the capacity to serve more than 210,000 children across roughly 2,500 sites. Pia Singh, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2024 These beliefs often come from childhood experiences, where success or approval might have been conditional—tied to good grades, behavior or external validation. Shay Levister, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for childhood 

Word History

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of childhood was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near childhood

Cite this Entry

“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childhood. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

childhood

noun
child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
: the state or time of being a child

Medical Definition

childhood

noun
child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
: the state or period of being a child

More from Merriam-Webster on childhood

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!