thelernen logothelernen
Start for free

Definition and meaning of English word "child"

child

/tʃaɪld/

Meaning

Noun

A person who has not yet reached adulthood, whether natural (puberty), cultural (initiation), or legal (majority, A person yet a toddler).

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The term 'child' encompasses a broad age range, from infancy to early adolescence. In formal contexts, such as education and law, the term is often used to denote a person under the age of 18. However, in informal settings, the term may be used to refer to a younger person, even if they are no longer a toddler. For example, 'The child is now in high school' is a common phrase, but it's worth noting that the child in question may be 14 or 15 years old, and thus not technically a toddler.

🇬🇧 English

child

Example

I love playing with my child.

The child is very curious.

Your personal vocabulary

🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversation

Synonyms

a person who has not yet reached the age of majoritya young person, especially a boy or girl between the ages of 10 and 18a young person, especially a boy or girl between the ages of 10 and 18kida young person, especially a boy or girl between the ages of 5 and 12

Common phrases

  • childhood— the period of life from birth to puberty
  • childcare— the care and supervision of children
  • childhood memories— happy memories of one's childhood
  • child labor— the employment of children in work that is hazardous or exploitative
  • child support— financial assistance provided to a child by one or both parents

More People & Family words

Frequency rank: #50 in English

🦊

Learn them all! 🚀

Master the 1000 most common English words with smart explanations, audio pronunciation, and spaced repetition.

Start Learning For Free →

No sign-up required

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "child" mean?▼

The English word "child" means "child" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "child"?▼

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "child" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "child"?▼

Yes, here is a practical example: "I love playing with my child." (which translates as "child").

Related reading