youth

noun

plural youths ˈyüt͟hz How to pronounce youth (audio) ˈyüths How to pronounce youth (audio)
often attributive
1
a
: the time of life when one is young
especially : the period between childhood and maturity
b
: the early period of existence, growth, or development
2
a
: a young person
especially : a young male between adolescence and maturity
b
: young persons or creatures
usually plural in construction
3
: the quality or state of being youthful : youthfulness

Examples of youth in a Sentence

She had a troubled youth. He spent his youth in the Midwest. He got into a lot of trouble in his youth. a generation trying to recapture lost youth when the industry was still in its youth Four youths are suspected of starting the fire.
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Related Articles For decades, the tobacco industry has targeted people of color, limited-income communities, LGBTQ+ people and youth, causing a disproportionate use of tobacco among these populations. David Stempel, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024 Tagging a black bear is an accomplishment for any Pennsylvanian, let alone a youth hunter like Jojo: Fewer than 3 percent of Pennsylvania black bear hunters are successful each fall, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024 Amalia Holguin, Sage Hill: The 5-foot-9 junior point guard carries on the Mambas’ legacy at Sage Hill after four alumni of Kobe Bryant’s youth team graduated. Dan Albano, Orange County Register, 7 Nov. 2024 Presidential Election 2024 results:Election Day live updates as Hoosiers head to the polls to vote for president, governor Brownsburg School Board candidates Gordon Hayward for Brown Township: Hayward is a lifelong Brownsburg resident and has coached youth sports. Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for youth 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English youthe, from Old English geoguth; akin to Old English geong young — more at young

First Known Use

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

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

Cite this Entry

“Youth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/youth. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

youth

noun
plural youths ˈyüt͟hz How to pronounce youth (audio) ˈyüths How to pronounce youth (audio)
1
: the time of life when one is young
especially : the period between childhood and adulthood
2
a
: a young man
b
: young people
the youth of today
usually used with a plural verb
3
: the quality or state of being young

More from Merriam-Webster on youth

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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