child
CHYLD
Child (noun) means a young human being, from birth up to the start of the teenage years. Example: “The child ran across the playground laughing.”
noun
1
A young human being, from birth up to the start of the teenage years.
"The child ran across the playground laughing."
"She has two children, a boy and a girl."
"Every child in the class received a small gift."
2
A son or daughter of any age, regardless of how old they are.
"Even at fifty, he's still their only child."
"Every parent worries about their child, no matter how grown up they get."
"Their grown-up child still phones home every Sunday evening."
3
Someone strongly shaped by a particular time, place, or influence.
"As a child of the countryside, he never felt at ease in big cities."
"She always described herself as a child of the 1980s."
"He is very much a child of the internet age."
How to use child
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA young person, or, more loosely, anyone's son or daughter at any age.
Common mistake
The plural is "children," not "childs" — an irregular plural that trips up many learners.
Common pairings
an only child
child of divorce
from child to adult
a child prodigy
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- childs
- Past tense
- childed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ ran across the playground laughing.
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.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for child
See all rhymes for 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.
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