youth

noun

ˈyüth How to pronounce youth (audio)
plural youths ˈyüt͟hz How to pronounce youth (audio) ˈyüths How to pronounce youth (audio)
Synonyms of youthnext
often attributive
1
a
: the time of life when one is young
especially : the period between childhood and maturity
b
: the early period of existence, growth, or development
2
a
: a young person
especially : a young male between adolescence and maturity
b
: young persons or creatures
—usually plural in construction
3
: the quality or state of being youthful : youthfulness

Synonyms of youth

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Examples of youth in a Sentence

She had a troubled youth. He spent his youth in the Midwest. He got into a lot of trouble in his youth. a generation trying to recapture lost youth when the industry was still in its youth Four youths are suspected of starting the fire.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
During the Virgil Abloh years, fashion’s latest golden era reached far beyond its own bubble, influencing music, youth culture and the wider creative world. — Alex Badia, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026 The Jessieville native serves as a youth cross-country and track coach and as a member of the Arkansas Supreme Court Committee on Professional Conduct. — Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 India’s youth movement broadens campaign against Modi For the Cockroach movement, the voter list dispute offers an opportunity to broaden its campaign. — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026 For now, this perfect mix of burgeoning youth and senior leadership has come together to create an incredibly deep team with big dreams. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for youth

Word History

Etymology

Middle English youthe, from Old English geoguth; akin to Old English geong young — more at young

First Known Use

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

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

Phrases Containing youth

Rhymes for youth

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Browse Nearby Words

you take it from here
youth
youth-and-old-age
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Youth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/youth. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

youth

noun
ˈyüth How to pronounce youth (audio)
plural youths ˈyüt͟hz How to pronounce youth (audio) ˈyüths How to pronounce youth (audio)
1
: the time of life when one is young
especially : the period between childhood and adulthood
2
a
: a young man
b
: young people
the youth of today
—usually used with a plural verb
3
: the quality or state of being young

More from Merriam-Webster on youth

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about youth

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