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youth

youth

101 1.0
A young person, often a boy or young man
  • noun
  • /juːθ/
: joven
  • And the thing about youth is that we all feel we are immortal.
  • a black youth
  • a male youth
  • a homeless youth

And then, well, what about a youth or, you know, a boy?

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Examples

  • As a youth, I enjoyed exploring my interests and making new friends.

  • Look, they said this is what helps inner city youth escape poverty.

  • I had a troubled youth, struggled in school.

  • The youth is handsome, free and bold

  • As a youth I was often mocked for my love of poetry and solitude.

  • Research suggests that two-thirds of youths in detention have one or more mental health disorders.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Today, the world is full of disillusioned youths, alienated from their societies and confused about their identities.

    Academic text (2015)
  • Many organizations exist to support the dreams and aspirations of youths in our community.

  • The program focuses on helping youth develop leadership skills and confidence.

Synonyms

kid
vsyouth
  • Informal
∞ 1.0

A young person, usually a child

is more neutral and can carry an affectionate male sense
boy
vsyouth
∞ 1.0

A young male who is not yet an adult

is broader and sometimes implies an older male focus
young man
vsyouth
∞ 1.0

A male who is a teenager or a young adult

is more general and can refer to any young person
teenager
vsyouth
885 1.0

A person between 13 and 19 years old

is less precise about age and often implies masculinity
young person
vsyouth
777 1.0

A child or teenager who is not yet an adult

is used especially for males rather than neutrally
lad
vsyouth
  • UK
618 1.1

People use it for a boy or young man when they speak in a friendly way

is a neutral term that often stresses male identity
teen
vsyouth
453 1.0

A young person aged 13 to 19

is more general and often used with male examples
youngster
vsyouth
213 1.0

A child or teenager who is not yet an adult

is more male-focused in many uses rather than general
juvenile
vsyouth
79 3.9

A young person who is not yet an adult

is less age-specific and often highlights maleness
adolescent
vsyouth
69 3.5

A young person between childhood and adulthood, often aged 13 to 18

is broader and can apply to any young male person
cub
vsyouth
  • Archaic
18 5.5

A young person who is new to a job

is a broader term that does not imply awkwardness
young'un
vsyouth
  • Informal
14 9.3

A friendly way to say child or young animal

is the common general word often used for males
youngling
vsyouth
2 5.5

A child or baby animal not yet fully grown

applies mainly to human persons, often male individuals
youngblood
vsyouth
  • Informal
1 7.6

A young person new to a group who brings energy and ideas

is a general label emphasising male age rather than novelty
younker
vsyouth
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A young man or boy who is lively and likes adventure

is the modern neutral term used in everyday speech

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

A person who is fully grown and no longer a child

Compounds

A way of life and interests shared by young people

Fountain of Youth
  • Literature
5 8.8

A spring in stories that makes people young again when they drink or bathe

A group of young people who work together for social or political change

3 3.0

A cheap place where young travelers stay and share rooms and kitchens

1 4.2

A group of young people who do crimes or cause trouble

A time when a young person looks and feels their best

A campaign in which young people try to change politics, religion, or society

flower of youth
  • Archaic
7.5

A time in youth when a person has the most energy and hope

A special feeling of wonder and energy in young people

A group of young people who share a style, music, or behaviour different from the wider culture

youth-on-age
  • Specialized
9.9

An indoor plant that makes small baby plants on its leaves

How Young

infant
411 1.0
child
∞ 1.0
teenager
885 1.0
youth
101 1.0
young man
∞ 1.0
adult
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

youth singular
youths plural

Etymology

Youth shares its root with young, so it originally named the condition of being young. By extension it came to mean a single young person, which is why we can call a boy or young man a 'youth'.