youngster

American  

[yuhng-ster] / ˈjʌŋ stər /

noun

youngsters plural

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.

---

youngster British  

/ ˈjʌŋstə /

noun

1. a young person; child or youth

2. a young animal, esp a horse

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• youngsters
  plural

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

Youngster Steve Sax, however, did take his job.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

Youngster Nico Williams scored Athletic’s winner in the 81st after Yeray Álvarez had evened the match in the 77th.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 13, 2022

Youngster Garret Sparks also is still with Toronto, which missed the playoffs for the 10th time in 11 seasons.

From Washington Times • Jun. 20, 2016

Youngster James Cahill, who recorded a brilliant 6-5 win over Ding Junhui in the previous round, was unable to repeat his heroics against Mark Davis, who triumphed 6-2.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2014

He closed and locked the big gate, but before we reached the house, there was a rush of horsemen in the road—then a halt—the Youngster opened the gate before it was called for.

From Told in a French Garden August, 1914 by Aldrich, Mildred

Related Words

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