childhood

American  

[chahyld-hood] / ˈtʃaɪld hʊd /

noun

1. the state or period of being a child.

   Synonyms:

   girlhood, boyhood, youth

2. the early stage in the existence of something.

   the childhood of the human race.

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childhood British  

/ ˈtʃaɪldhʊd /

noun

1. the condition of being a child; the period of life before puberty

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Other Word Forms

• prechildhood
  noun

Etymology

Origin of childhood

before 950; Middle English childhode, Old English cildhād. See child, -hood

Example Sentences

Kate set up The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood in 2021, working to highlight the importance of a child's early years.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Childhood anxiety diagnoses rose 54% between 2016 and 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

“Influencerdom is the new American dream,” journalist Fortesa Latifi proclaimed earlier this month at the launch of her book “Like, Follow, Subscribe: Influencer Kids and the Cost of a Childhood Online.”

From Salon • May 10, 2026

Childhood friends and international students Marwan Hamouche and Arthur Perroud are training together at their local Fitness First branch in London, between their business lectures.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

From time to time I would see her at a distance in the playground of the Early Childhood Center as I walked to class.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt