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

After The Dick Van Dyke Show wrapped, Matthews returned to a normal childhood life and attended UCLA. — Julie Tremaine, PEOPLE, 3 Oct. 2026

Desperate to change, Tonya turns to her estranged mother, Wanda (Miller), who offers little concern and instead accuses her of repeating the same destructive patterns that shaped her own childhood. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026

In bursts of bright stanzas, Chen Chen transports us through the landscape of his childhood into his early twenties. — Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026

The Food and Drug Administration approved the first chickenpox vaccine in 1995, when it was added to the childhood vaccination schedule. — Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC news, 2 Oct. 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