Youth

Definition

Youth refers to the period of life between childhood and adulthood, often associated with energy, growth, and development. It can also describe young people collectively or the quality of being youthful.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /juːθ/
• Respelling: YOOTH

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /juːθ/
• Respelling: YOOTH

Etymology

The word "youth" originates from Old English "geoguth," meaning "young people" or "youngness." It is derived from Proto-Germanic "jugunthi" and Proto-Indo-European "yeu," meaning "vital force" or "young life."

Derivatives

• Youthful (adjective)
• Youthfulness (noun)
• Youthfully (adverb)
• Youthhood (noun)
• Youthquake (noun, informal)

Synonyms

• Adolescence
• Teenage years
• Juvenescence

Antonyms

• Adulthood
• Senescence
• Maturity

Usage

The noun "youth" is used to describe a stage of life or a group of young people, such as "The youth of today are tech-savvy." It also conveys qualities like vigor and freshness, as in "Her youth was marked by ambition."

Related Terms

• Childhood: The period before youth.
• Adolescence: The transitional phase between youth and adulthood.
• Age: A measure of how long someone has lived.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The period between childhood and adulthood: Refers to the phase of life characterized by growth and development.
  • Example: "He spent his youth in a small town."
• Young people collectively: Describes a group or generation of young individuals.
  • Example: "The program is designed to support the local youth."
• The quality of being youthful: Refers to vitality, energy, or the appearance of being young.
  • Example: "She maintained her youth through a healthy lifestyle."