childhood

[ chahyld-hood ]

noun

1. the state or period of being a child.

   Synonyms: girlhood, boyhood, youth

2. the early stage in the existence of something:

   the childhood of the human race.

childhood

/ ˈtʃaɪldhʊd /

noun

1. the condition of being a child; the period of life before puberty

Other Words From

• pre·childhood noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of childhood¹

before 950; Middle English childhode, Old English cildhād. See child, -hood

Example Sentences

Despite this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still label cerebral palsy as "the most common motor disability in childhood."

From Science Daily

That desire for escapism has been Murray’s driving force since childhood.

From Los Angeles Times

Music has always been a passion for Coppola, whose childhood was marinated in opera and whose composer father often contributed to his films.

From Los Angeles Times

Long before it became a career, politics played a significant role in Mahama's childhood.

From BBC

Cluster 1 patients were more likely to be female, tended to be diagnosed slightly later in childhood and presented with chronic headaches and few other health issues.

From Science Daily