child
0 antonyms and opposites of child, grouped by meaning.
Noun — A young human being, from birth up to the start of the teenage years.
How to use child
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English cild, going back to a very old Germanic word for offspring — it has been part of English since before written records began.
Full origin of child →Frequently asked questions
What does “child” mean?
The word “child” means a young human being, from birth up to the start of the teenage years. In plain terms, a young person, or, more loosely, anyone's son or daughter at any age.
How do you pronounce “child”?
“Child” is pronounced CHYLD (/ˈt͡ʃaɪ̯ld/ in IPA).
How do you use “child” in a sentence?
Here is “child” used in a sentence: “The child ran across the playground laughing.”
What part of speech is “child”?
“Child” is a noun.
Where does the word “child” come from?
The word “child” comes from Old English. From Old English cild, going back to a very old Germanic word for offspring — it has been part of English since before written records began.
Is “child” a common word?
“Child” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “child” have?
“Child” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young human being, from birth up to the start of the teenage years.
What is the difference between a child and a toddler?
A toddler is a child in a specific early stage, roughly one to three years old, who has just begun to walk. Child is the broader term, covering everyone from birth to the early teens. Every toddler is a child, but a child can also be a school-age boy or girl well past the toddler years.
At what age does someone stop being a child?
In everyday use, childhood runs from birth to about twelve or thirteen, when the teenage years begin. The exact cut-off varies: some laws define a child as anyone under eighteen, and the word can also mean someone's offspring at any age, as in "her adult children."
What is the plural of "child"?
The plural is "children," an irregular form that does not simply add an -s. It survives from an older English pattern, which is why we say "one child, two children" rather than "childs." The possessive forms are "child's" for one and "children's" for more than one.
Is "kid" the same as a child?
Yes, in casual speech "kid" means the same as child, but it is more informal. "Child" suits formal or written contexts, while "kid" feels relaxed and conversational. Originally "kid" meant a young goat, and the playful sense for a young person grew from there over time.