juvenile
C1Formal, technical (legal, zoology), occasionally pejorative in informal contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A young person who is not yet legally an adult; related to, suitable for, or typical of young people.
A young animal or bird; can refer to behavior or attitudes considered childish, immature, or undeveloped, especially in a derogatory way when applied to adults.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word has a primary neutral/technical meaning for a young person/animal and a secondary, often negative, meaning when describing immature behavior in an adult. Context is crucial to determine connotation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In legal contexts, both use 'juvenile' for a young offender, but the specific age range and procedures differ. 'Juvenile court' is standard in both.
Connotations
Slightly stronger negative connotation when applied to adult behavior in BrE ('That's a bit juvenile') compared to AmE, where it's also common.
Frequency
Similar frequency in formal/legal contexts. In everyday speech, BrE might marginally favour 'childish' or 'immature' over the adjectival 'juvenile' for negative connotations.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
juvenile [Noun][Adjective] juvenilebe juvenile of [Pronoun] to [Verb]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. Often used in set phrases like 'act juvenile'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in CSR reports: 'programmes aimed at juvenile employment.'
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, criminology, law, and biology: 'juvenile development stages', 'the juvenile justice system'.
Everyday
Used formally for young people; informally as an adjective for silly/immature behavior: 'Don't be so juvenile!'
Technical
Precise term in law (juvenile law), ornithology (a juvenile bird), and biology (juvenile form).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His juvenile sense of humour didn't impress the interview panel.
- The RSPCA rescued a juvenile fox from the garden.
American English
- She was charged under the state's juvenile code.
- That was a pretty juvenile prank to pull in the office.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The zoo has a new juvenile elephant.
- He's too old for such juvenile jokes.
- The study focused on the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders.
- The legislation aims to overhaul the entire juvenile justice system, prioritising education over punishment.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of JUVENILE like JUVENilia - the early, immature works of an artist or writer. Both come from the Latin 'juvenis' for young.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMMATURITY IS CHILDHOOD (When used pejoratively: an adult acting juvenile is metaphorically reverting to childhood).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'ювенальный' (which is a direct cognate but less common in general Russian). The neutral Russian equivalent is 'несовершеннолетний' (for a person) or 'подростковый' (adj.). For the negative sense, use 'детский', 'незрелый', or 'ребяческий'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'juvenile' as a direct synonym for 'teenager' in all contexts (it's more formal/technical).
- Mispronouncing it as /dʒuːvəˈniːl/ in AmE.
- Overusing the adjectival form in informal speech where 'childish' or 'immature' would sound more natural.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'juvenile' MOST likely to be neutral or technical, rather than negative?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In legal, biological, and formal contexts (e.g., 'juvenile court', 'juvenile bird'), it is a neutral, technical term. It becomes negative when used to describe an adult's behaviour ('juvenile antics').
'Juvenile' is formal/legal and covers a broader age range up to legal adulthood. 'Adolescent' is more psychological/developmental. 'Teenager' is informal and specifically refers to ages 13-19.
No, 'juvenile' is not used as a verb in standard modern English. It is solely a noun and an adjective.
In everyday conversation, use it cautiously. To describe immature behaviour, 'childish' or 'immature' are safer and more common. Reserve 'juvenile' for formal or technical discussions about young people or animals.