childhood

[chahyld-hood]

See more synonyms for childhood on Thesaurus.com

noun

the state or period of being a child.
the early stage in the existence of something: the childhood of the human race.

Origin of childhood

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

Related formspre·child·hood, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com

1. youth, boyhood, girlhood, school days.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for childhood

Contemporary Examples

My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore
James Joiner
January 7, 2015
But that was probably the least unique thing about her childhood.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood Stardom
Marlow Stern
December 22, 2014
And the actor says his childhood experience plays a critical role in his performance.
After The Fall: Introducing The Anti-Villain
Rich Goldstein
December 21, 2014
My parents are building a mausoleum for themselves in my childhood home.
I’m a Digital Hoarder
Lizzie Crocker
December 17, 2014
In doing so, the vice president delighted the audience with a personal anecdote from his childhood as Joey Biden.
Joe Biden: ‘I’ll Kill Your Son’
Olivia Nuzzi
December 12, 2014

Historical Examples

He dwelt on the childhood of Philothea with peculiar pleasure.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
He's getting old, and he's come along into his second childhood.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
"We have always been frank with one another since our childhood," said he.
Viviette
William J. Locke
"You should have a little more sympathy with childhood, Cornelius," said his father.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
There are old scenes of childhood associated with it which time can never erase.
Life in London
Edwin Hodder

British Dictionary definitions for childhood

childhood

noun

the condition of being a child; the period of life before puberty

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for childhood

n.

"period of life from birth to puberty," Old English cildhad; see child + -hood.

childhood in Medicine

childhood

(chīld′hud′)

The period of life between infancy and puberty.

childhood

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}childhood

Synonyms

Related Words

Examples from the Web for childhood

Contemporary Examples

My dad was a sailor, and all through my childhood he was away half of the time at sea, and to an extent I have a similar job.

But that was probably the least unique thing about her childhood.

And the actor says his childhood experience plays a critical role in his performance.

My parents are building a mausoleum for themselves in my childhood home.

In doing so, the vice president delighted the audience with a personal anecdote from his childhood as Joey Biden.

Historical Examples

He dwelt on the childhood of Philothea with peculiar pleasure.

He's getting old, and he's come along into his second childhood.

"We have always been frank with one another since our childhood," said he.

"You should have a little more sympathy with childhood, Cornelius," said his father.

There are old scenes of childhood associated with it which time can never erase.

childhood

Word Origin and History for childhood

n.

childhood

Origin of childhood