childhood

American  

[chahyld-hood] / ˈtʃaɪld hʊd /

noun

• childhoods
  plural

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

Derived Forms

• prechildhood
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• childhoods
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of childhood

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

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

childhood childhoods

Federal agents seized her phone and passport and searched her residence as part of an investigation into allegations dating back to her childhood.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

These cancers account for about 7% of childhood cancers, according to the charity, but experts say diagnosis can often be delayed because symptoms resemble more common conditions.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

In his funny and touching reflection on his childhood, Baker explains that he was trying to satisfy his mother, who insisted that her son “make something” of himself.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

For millions of gamers, a few notes from an ocarina are enough to bring back fond childhood memories.

From Barron's ● Oct. 15, 2026

That had been his path, laid out before him as straight as an arrow since childhood.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Though the Womacks come from a line of West Virginian horse breeders, there was nothing Americana about the childhoods of BG, Zeimani and Kucha.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 17, 2026

As if their unconventional childhoods weren’t troubled enough, Asa and Yuru’s twinship comes with another heavy burden: saving the world.

From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026

Over one-third of American children and a staggering 53 percent of Black children will be subjected to a child protective services investigation at some point in their childhoods.

From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026

Since her cancer treatment, the princess has often spoken of the value of human contact and connection to help create happy, stable childhoods.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

It was an experience common to most childhoods, though new to Penelope—that of drifting off to sleep as her parents spoke quietly in another room, trying not to be overheard.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

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