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

"All my childhood I had a limp," Phoebe said.

From BBC • Apr. 9, 2026

On Thursday, Moore stressed his record of investment in combating childhood poverty and violent crime in his state.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

He has no apparent convictions, only Freudian longings for an idealized childhood.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

It's a highly anticipated journey that demands exacting precision -- but there's still room for the astronauts to live out their childhood dreams of spaceflight.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Early childhood preservice teachers’ beliefs about music, developmentally appropriate practice, and the relationship between music and developmentally appropriate practice.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin