child
noun
a person between birth and puberty or full growth.
child
1 American
[chahyld]
/ tʃaɪld /
noun
-
children
plural
-
a person between birth and puberty or full growth.
books for children.
-
a son or daughter; offspring considered with regard to parents.
All my children are married.
-
a baby or infant.
A child of six months can recognize family members.
-
a human fetus.
My sister is seven months pregnant with a healthy child.
-
a childish person.
He's such a child about money.
-
a descendant.
a child of an ancient breed.
-
any person or thing regarded as the product or result of particular agencies, influences, etc..
Abstract art is a child of the 20th century.
-
a person regarded as conditioned or marked by a given circumstance, situation, etc..
a child of poverty; a child of famine.
-
British Dialect, Archaic. a female infant.
-
Archaic. childe.
idioms
Child
2
American
[chahyld]
/ tʃaɪld /
noun
-
Julia, 1912–2004, U.S. gourmet cook, author, and television personality.
-
Lydia Maria (Francis), 1802–80, U.S. author, abolitionist, and social reformer.
child
British
/ tʃaɪld /
noun
-
-
a boy or girl between birth and puberty
-
( as modifier )
child labour
-
-
a baby or infant
-
an unborn baby
-
another term for pregnant
-
a human offspring; a son or daughter
-
a childish or immature person
-
a member of a family or tribe; descendant
a child of Israel
-
a person or thing regarded as the product of an influence or environment
a child of nature
-
dialect a female infant
child
More Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of child
First recorded before 950; Middle English; Old English cild; akin to Gothic kilthai “womb”
Explanation
A child is a young person who's typically older than a baby but younger than a teen. As a child, you probably had your parents watching over you as you played in a sandbox. The noun child come from the Old English word cild, meaning "child, infant." Retaining a similar meaning into modern times, the word still refers to a young person, male or female. But you can be considered a child after reaching adulthood — in the eyes of your parents, at least. Immature behavior like throwing a temper tantrum can also mark you as a child. The word can also refer to someone in a clan or tribe, young or old.
Vocabulary lists containing child
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
It refers to the child of a famous artist who follows in their parent’s footsteps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
As a child, Hall would spend about £1.99 of his pocket money on a new Pokémon card.
From BBC ● Sep. 15, 2026
Childcare on average costs about $1,100 per month per child, according to Child Care Aware of America.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
When a child has a congenital heart defect without other complications, the condition is classified as non-syndromic congenital heart disease.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 2026
Who would want to name their child Peabody?
From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff
Childcare on average costs about $1,100 per month per child, according to Child Care Aware of America.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
Michelle Williams of Destiny’s Child is recording songs about candy corn.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2026
After the BBC investigation, several Indian agencies including the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights and the National Human Rights Commission have said they are examining the matter.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2026
Anak Krakatoa, which means Child of Krakatoa, sits in a strait that separates the islands of Java and Sumatra.
From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026
It was a relief to know that Child X wasn’t turning into a complete monster once and for all.
From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Cupcakes and candy were once prohibited at the Manhattan preschool where Miral Sattar, a growth strategist and kids’ podcaster, sent her three children.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
"There were missed opportunities... and we're sorry about the impact that it's had on those children," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on Wednesday.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
His justice minister defended the raids as a bid to protect "children and the institution of the family".
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
A panel of experts—convened by Von der Leyen—issued a report earlier this year outlining how they believe rules should be implemented, including by staggering how children can use platforms as they grow up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“There, with her, are people who need charity and she never lets a chance to alleviate their suffering go past her. The children, in particular, look up to her.”
From "At Last She Stood" by Erin Entrada Kelly
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
