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

Etymology

Origin of childhood

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

Example Sentences

Although she lives on her own now, she recalls a very warm childhood and has fond memories of her dad doing everything in his power to make sure his loved ones were happy.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 9, 2026

The actor who plays the lead character in the new Assassin's Creed video game about pirates has said he "tapped into" his childhood in Wales for the role.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

At some point in childhood, through one classic fable or another, most of us absorb the lesson that looks can be deceiving.

From Slate • Jul. 8, 2026

Not once in my childhood or adolescence did I ever think of my American identity or anybody else’s as creedal, nor did I meet anybody who thought this way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026

She'd seen both her mother and father do it so many times during her childhood, squirreling away money from their business to avoid the prying eyes—and pockets—of the bankers of the Marvellian Mint.

From "The Marvellers" by Dhonielle Clayton