childhood
noun
child·hood
ˈchī(-ə)ld-ˌhu̇d 
1
: the state or period of being a child
2
: the early period in the development of something
Examples of childhood in a Sentence
diseases that can occur in childhood
Both men had unhappy childhoods.
Recent Examples on the Web
Take Frank VanderSloot, founder of the wellness company Melaleuca, who spent his childhood working on a farm in Idaho and could only afford college by living in a laundromat.
—
Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
With unfinished business between the former childhood sweethearts, plus the presence of Nevile’s new wife, tensions are running high.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2024
The film's plot centers around a florist (Lively), who falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) and reconnects with her childhood sweetheart played by Brandon Sklenar.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Jeanty, who bounced around the globe as the son of a Naval officer, spent a chunk of his childhood in Florida when James was on the Miami Heat.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for childhood 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Monica Hunter-Hart, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2024
With unfinished business between the former childhood sweethearts, plus the presence of Nevile’s new wife, tensions are running high.
—Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Dec. 2024
The film's plot centers around a florist (Lively), who falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) and reconnects with her childhood sweetheart played by Brandon Sklenar.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
Jeanty, who bounced around the globe as the son of a Naval officer, spent a chunk of his childhood in Florida when James was on the Miami Heat.
—Justin Williams, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for childhood
Articles Related to childhood
Dictionary Entries Near childhood
Cite this Entry
“Childhood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/childhood. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
childhood
noun
child·hood
ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d
: the state or time of being a child
Medical Definition
childhood
noun
child·hood
ˈchīld-ˌhu̇d
: the state or period of being a child
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share