childhood

noun

child·​hood ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
Synonyms of childhoodnext
1
: the state or period of being a child
2
: the early period in the development of something

Synonyms of childhood

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Examples of childhood in a Sentence

diseases that can occur in childhood Both men had unhappy childhoods.
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The one person who never wanted to be seen with Dolly in public, astonishingly, was her husband of 59 years and childhood sweetheart, Carl Dean. — Tania Bryer, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026 Jeremy Saulnier certainly did after the actor saw the filmmaker’s breakout self- and crowd-funded revenge thriller, Blue Ruin (2013), starring his childhood best friend Macon Blair. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026 In 1995, Parton started a childhood literacy program, in honor of her late father, who was illiterate. — Janice Gassam Asare, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Told in four segments, the story takes them from childhood rivalry to heady high school romance through college and their respective professional careers. — David Faris, TheWeek, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for childhood

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of childhood was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing childhood

Rhymes for childhood

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Browse Nearby Words

child-free
childhood
childhood friend
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Cite this Entry

“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childhood. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

childhood

noun
child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
: the state or time of being a child

Medical Definition

childhood

noun
child·​hood ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d How to pronounce childhood (audio)
: the state or period of being a child
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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