youth

¹

[yooth]

noun

plural

youths ,

plural

youth .

1. the condition of being young.

   Antonyms: maturity

2. the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young.

3. the time of being young; early life.

   His youth was spent on the farm.

   Synonyms: immaturity, minority
   Antonyms: maturity

4. the period of life from puberty to the attainment of full growth; adolescence.

5. the first or early period of anything.

   The business, even in its youth, showed great potential.

6. young persons collectively.

7. a young person, especially a young man or male adolescent.

   Synonyms: boy, lad, stripling, adolescent, teenager, youngster

Youth

²

[yooth]

noun

1. Isle of Youth an island in the Caribbean, a special municipality in southern Cuba. 1,182 sq. mi. (3,060 sq. km).

youth

¹

/ juːθ /

noun

1. the quality or condition of being young, immature, or inexperienced

   his youth told against him in the contest

2. the period between childhood and maturity, esp adolescence and early adulthood

3. the freshness, vigour, or vitality characteristic of young people

   youth shone out from her face

4. any period of early development

   the project was in its youth

5. a young person, esp a young man or boy

6. young people collectively

   youth everywhere is rising in revolt

Youth

²

/ juːθ /

noun

1. Spanish name: Isla de la Juventud. Former name: Isle of Pines. an island in the NW Caribbean, south of Cuba: administratively part of Cuba from 1925. Chief town: Nueva Gerona. Pop: 80 600 (2002 est). Area: 3061 sq km (1182 sq miles)

Other Word Forms

• youthless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of youth¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English youthe, Old English geoguth; cognate with Dutch jeugd, German Jugend

Word History and Origins

Origin of youth¹

Old English geogoth; related to Old Frisian jogethe, Old High German iugund, Gothic junda, Latin juventus

Example Sentences

Signs of softness in the job market linger, particularly for youth who struggled with a tough summer job market, and uncertainty about the economy remains high.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The anger of the youth movement behind the demonstrations, known as Gen Z Mada, has grown with the protesters now calling for the president to step down.

Read more on BBC

Columns implying that trans people, especially youth, are being manipulated or misled by progressive politics.

Read more on Salon

“You have high school and youth athletes doing pro workouts, sometimes training in groups with pros,” Boldon says.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The report urged youth basketball authorities to do a better job “embracing mess and joy.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• minority 
• teens