youngster

American  

[yuhng-ster] / ˈyʌŋ stər /

noun

1. a child.

2. a young person.

   Synonyms:

   girl, boy, stripling, lad, youth

3. a young horse or other animal.

4. (in the British navy) a midshipman of less than four years' standing.

5. (in the U.S. Naval Academy) a midshipman in the second year.

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youngster British  

/ ˈjʌŋstə /

noun

1. a young person; child or youth

2. a young animal, esp a horse

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Etymology

Origin of youngster

First recorded in 1580–90; young + -ster

Explanation

Youngster is a good, generic way to talk about a person who's younger than you are, especially a child. If you babysit a neighborhood kid, you can describe him as a youngster. The noun youngster is a casual word meaning "child," and its synonyms include tyke and small fry. Older people sometimes use it to refer to adults who are younger than they are: "You youngsters can keep playing cards, but I'm going to bed!" Youngster has been around since the 1500's, when it replaced the earlier youngling.

Example Sentences

The youngster had the galleries chanting his name as he tried to fulfill a vow made 12 months ago - to clear the water with his tee-shot on the final ninth hole.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

"It was amazing, so beautiful, and it was stunning," said the youngster.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Where I used to see myself as a youngster, now I'm not that youngster any more.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

Russell pushed on trying to close the gap, but his own fastest lap was answered by one from Antonelli, underlining that the youngster had an answer for everything Russell could throw at him.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

“Can’t be that. Can you imagine a youngster getting sick on pizza?”

From "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• boy
• child
• girl
• juvenile
• kid
• pupil
• student
• teenager
• youth