childhood: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1 (High frequency; common in both general and descriptive contexts)Neutral to formal. Common in all registers from everyday conversation to academic writing.
Quick answer
What does “childhood” mean?
The period of a person's life from birth to adolescence.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The period of a person's life from birth to adolescence.
The state or experience of being a child; also used figuratively to refer to the early stages of development of something (e.g., 'the childhood of the internet').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. The concept is culturally universal.
Connotations
Both varieties strongly associate the word with nostalgia, innocence, and foundational development.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “childhood” in a Sentence
spend one's childhood + V-ing (He spent his childhood fishing)have a/an [adjective] childhood (She had a sheltered childhood)from/since childhood (I've known her since childhood)during/in (my) childhoodVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “childhood” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - 'childhood' is not a verb.
American English
- N/A - 'childhood' is not a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No direct adverb form. Use 'as a child' or 'in childhood'.
- He learned the poem in childhood.
American English
- N/A - No direct adverb form. Use 'as a kid' or 'during childhood'.
- She visited there during childhood.
adjective
British English
- N/A - The adjective form is 'childhood' as a modifier in compound nouns: 'childhood experiences'.
- She revisited her childhood haunts.
American English
- N/A - The adjective form is 'childhood' as a modifier in compound nouns: 'childhood trauma'.
- He has a childhood friend in Chicago.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like 'childhood brand loyalty' or marketing nostalgia.
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, education, and literary studies (e.g., 'the social construction of childhood').
Everyday
Very common in personal narratives and reminiscing.
Technical
Used in specific fields like 'early childhood development' or 'childhood immunisation schedules'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “childhood”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “childhood”
- Using it as a countable plural incorrectly (e.g., 'I had two wonderful childhoods').
- Confusing with 'children' (the people) vs. 'childhood' (the time period).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's less common. It is used when referring to the distinct childhood periods of different people (e.g., 'Their childhoods were very different').
'Childhood' specifically refers to the time from birth to puberty, emphasizing early development and dependency. 'Youth' is broader and can refer to the period from childhood to early adulthood, often with a focus on adolescence and young adulthood.
No, it is neutral. It is appropriate in both casual conversation ('I remember from my childhood...') and formal/academic writing ('the sociology of childhood').
It is used attributively in compound nouns, directly before another noun (e.g., childhood friend, childhood disease, childhood home). It does not take comparative or superlative forms.
The period of a person's life from birth to adolescence.
Childhood: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Second childhood (a period of childlike behavior in old age)”
- “Childhood sweethearts”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CHILD + HOOD (state/condition). Think of the 'hood' of a child, meaning their state of being.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHILDHOOD IS A CONTAINER (filled with memories), CHILDHOOD IS A FOUNDATION (for adult life), CHILDHOOD IS A JOURNEY (from infancy to adolescence).
Practice
Quiz
Which phrase is NOT a strong collocation with 'childhood'?