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

He wanted his five children at the time to have “normal childhoods.”

From Los Angeles Times

Jordan traces her own harms back to her childhood.

From BBC

As well as being hidden around LIPA, postcards were left at John Lennon's childhood home in south Liverpool and a the city's Cavern Club.

From BBC

Djokovic grew up in war-torn Serbia and has spoken about how his turbulent childhood made him hungrier for success.

From Barron's

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia at two years old, Dylan spent much of his early childhood undergoing intensive chemotherapy.

From BBC