youngster

American  

[yuhng-ster] / ˈjʌŋ stər /

noun

youngsters plural

1. a child.

2. a young person.

   Synonyms:

   girl, boy, stripling, lad, youth

3. a young horse or other animal.

4. (in the British navy) a midshipman of less than four years' standing.

5. (in the U.S. Naval Academy) a midshipman in the second year.

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youngster British  

/ ˈjʌŋstə /

noun

1. a young person; child or youth

2. a young animal, esp a horse

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• youngsters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of youngster

First recorded in 1580–90; young + -ster

Explanation

Youngster is a good, generic way to talk about a person who's younger than you are, especially a child. If you babysit a neighborhood kid, you can describe him as a youngster. The noun youngster is a casual word meaning "child," and its synonyms include tyke and small fry. Older people sometimes use it to refer to adults who are younger than they are: "You youngsters can keep playing cards, but I'm going to bed!" Youngster has been around since the 1500's, when it replaced the earlier youngling.

Example Sentences

Youngster Steve Sax, however, did take his job.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Youngster Learner Tien and veteran Gael Monfils defied their respective ages as both players reached the Australian Open fourth round.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2025

Youngster Ketel Marte struggled in his first full season, battling injuries and inconsistency.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 5, 2016

Youngster Jose Gimenez filled in for Miranda over the weekend and scored his first goal for Atletico in a 2-0 win at Elche.

From Washington Times • Dec. 8, 2014

You and I might go a little way, but Katy and The Youngster couldn't budge twenty steps.

From The Ice Queen by Ingersoll, Ernest

Related Words

• boy
• child
• girl
• juvenile
• kid
• pupil
• student
• teenager
• youth