kid
KIHD
Kid (noun) means a child or young person; informally, anyone's son or daughter regardless of their age. Example: “The neighbours' kid delivers our newspaper before school every morning.”
noun
1
A child or young person; informally, anyone's son or daughter regardless of their age.
"The neighbours' kid delivers our newspaper before school every morning."
"The kids were playing in the backyard all afternoon."
"She's my kid, even though she's thirty now."
2
A young goat.
"A little kid wobbled after its mother across the muddy field."
"The kid bleated loudly until the farmer brought its mother back."
"The farmer bottle-fed the newborn kid."
verb
1
To tease or joke with someone, often in a playful, harmless way.
"You're kidding! I can't believe you actually won the raffle."
"Don't take it seriously, I was only kidding."
"He kidded her about her terrible singing."
How to use kid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA young child, a baby goat, or (as a verb) to tease someone in fun.
Common mistake
As a verb, "kidding" means joking, not lying maliciously — it implies no real harm intended.
Common pairings
just kidding
kid around
my kids
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Word forms
- Plural
- kids
- Third person singular
- kids
- Past tense
- kidded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The neighbours' _____ delivers our newspaper before school every morning.
Etymology
From Old Norse "kið" (young goat), which entered English through Middle English. The word was first used as slang for "child" around the 1590s and became standard informal English by the 1840s.
Class of 1590
kid joined the language around 1590.
See the full Class of 1590 →
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for kid
See all rhymes for kid →Frequently asked questions
What does “kid” mean?
The word “kid” means a child or young person; informally, anyone's son or daughter regardless of their age. In plain terms, a young child, a baby goat, or (as a verb) to tease someone in fun.
How do you pronounce “kid”?
“Kid” is pronounced KIHD (/ˈkɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “kid” in a sentence?
Here is “kid” used in a sentence: “The kids were playing in the backyard all afternoon.”
What part of speech is “kid”?
Depending on how it is used, “kid” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “kid” come from?
The word “kid” dates back to around 1590 and comes from Middle English. From Old Norse "kið" (young goat), which entered English through Middle English. The word was first used as slang for "child" around the 1590s and became standard informal English by the 1840s.
Is “kid” a common word?
“Kid” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “kid” have?
“Kid” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a child or young person; informally, anyone's son or daughter regardless of their age.
What is the difference between a kid and a child?
They mean the same thing, but differ in tone. Child is the standard, neutral word suitable for formal writing and official contexts. Kid is informal and conversational, common in everyday speech. You would write 'children must be accompanied by an adult' on a sign, but say 'how are your kids?' to a friend.
Is kid formal or informal?
Kid is informal. It is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation, texts, and friendly writing, but in formal documents, reports, or official notices, child or young person is preferred. Calling someone a kid can also sound warm and affectionate, which is part of why it feels relaxed rather than official.
Why are adults sometimes called someone's kids?
In the sense of offspring, kid describes a person's son or daughter at any age, not just young children. A parent might say 'my kids are in their forties now' because they will always be that parent's children. Here kid marks the family relationship rather than the person's actual age.
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