Child — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈchī(-ə)ld/

Meaning & Definition of Child

Child (noun)

  1. a young person especially between infancy and puberty
  2. a person not yet of the age of majority
  3. a childlike or childish person

Child (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a young person who is between infancy and adulthood

    "an imaginative animated film that appeals to adults as well as to children"

    similar: bairn (chiefly Scottish), bambino, bud, chap (Southern & Midland), chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, moppet, sprat, sprout, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth
    related: adolescent, minor, kindergartner, preschooler, rug rat (slang), schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid, babe, baby, bantling, infant, neonate, nestling, newborn, toddler, tot, tyke, weanling, devil, hellion, imp, jackanapes, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper, cherub, preteen, preteen-ager, subteen, teen, teenager, teener, teenybopper, tween, lad, nipper, shaver, stripling, tad, bobby-soxer, hoyden, tomboy
    opposite: adult, grown-up
    near: middle-ager, ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

  2. a recently born person

    "wrapped the child in a blanket before taking him outside in the cold"

    similar: babe, baby, bambino, infant, neonate, newborn
    related: cherub, foundling, nursling, suckling, preemie, bantling, kid, kiddie, kiddo, moppet, toddler, tot, tyke, boy, nipper, tad, juvenile, minor, youngling, youngster, youth, imp, squirt, urchin, whippersnapper, girl, hoyden, tomboy
    near: adult, grown-up, elder, graybeard, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen

  3. a condition or occurrence traceable to a cause

    "widespread stress is the child of the frenetic pace of the modern world"

    similar: aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence, upshot, matter of course
    related: ramification, denouement, echo, implication, repercussion, afterclap, afterglow, aftershock, blowback, by-product, fallout, offshoot, ripple, side effect, spin-off
    opposite: antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason
    near: consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

Related Entry: Child's play (noun)

Child's play is a different word from Child. The synonyms below are for child's play, not for child.

  1. something of little importance

    "the injury is child's play, just a scratch"

    similar: bagatelle, frippery, nonproblem, nothing, picayune, shuck(s), small beer, small change, trifle, triviality
    related: naught, nothingness, smoke, zero, peanuts, pittance, song, straw, two bits, bunk, claptrap, drivel, folly, fribble, fudge, hogwash, humbug, humbuggery, nonsense, piffle, rot, trash, trivia, bit, crumb, dab, dram, lick, mite, ounce, particle, pinhead, scintilla, shred, smidgen, soupçon, speck, spot, tad, touch, trace

  2. something that is easy to do

    "winning the game against those guys will be child's play"

    similar: breeze, cake, cakewalk, cinch, cream puff, duck soup, kid stuff, picnic, pushover, roses, snap, piece of cake, walk in the park
    related: no-brainer, nothing, sitting duck, gimme, laugher, walkaway
    opposite: bear, beast, chore, headache, horror show, killer, labor, murder, pain, sticky wicket, stinker (slang)
    near: brainteaser, poser, stumper, toughie, bother, nuisance, trouble

Related Entry: Love child (noun)

Love child is a different word from Child. The synonyms below are for love child, not for child.

  1. an illegitimate child

    "a woman who claimed to be the love child of two of Hollywood's most beloved stars during its golden age"

    similar: by-blow (dated), whoreson (archaic)

Related Entry: With child (phrase)

With child is a different word from Child. The synonyms below are for with child, not for child.

  1. containing unborn young within the body

    "They were delighted to discover that, after months of trying, she was with child."

    similar: big, caught, enceinte, expectant, expecting, gone, gravid, heavy, pregnant, quick (archaic), with young
    related: parturient, prenatal, childbearing, gestational, brooding, conceiving, impregnated
    opposite: nonpregnant
    near: barren, infertile, aborting, miscarrying, delivered

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Child

The most common words with a similar meaning to Child:

Chiefly Scottish: bairn
Southern & Midland: chap
bambino, bud, chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie, kiddo, moppet, sprat, sprout, squirt, whelp, youngling, youngster, youth, babe, baby, infant, neonate, newborn, aftereffect, aftermath, backwash, conclusion, consequence, corollary, development, effect, fate, fruit, issue, outcome, outgrowth, precipitate, product, result, resultant, sequel, sequence

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Child

Words with the opposite meaning of Child:

adult, grown-up, antecedent, causation, cause, occasion, reason

Related Words for Child

adolescent, minor, kindergartner, preschooler, rug rat, schoolboy, schoolchild, schoolgirl, schoolkid, bantling, nestling, toddler, tot, tyke, weanling, devil, hellion, imp, jackanapes, mischief, monkey, rapscallion, rascal, rogue, urchin, whippersnapper, cherub, preteen, preteen-ager, subteen

Near Antonyms of Child

middle-ager, ancient, elder, golden-ager, oldster, old-timer, senior, senior citizen, graybeard, consideration, determinant, factor, base, basis, foundation, ground, groundwork, impetus, incentive, inspiration, instigation, stimulus, mother, origin, root, source, spring

Word Forms of Child

Inflections: children

Origin & Etymology of Child

Middle English, from Old English cild; akin to Goth kilthei womb, and perhaps to Sanskrit jaṭhara belly

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Child

Words & Phrases Containing Child

child-free, child's play, child support, child benefit, child-rearing, battered child syndrome, boomerang child

Frequently Asked Questions about Child

What does "Child" mean?

"Child" means a young person especially between infancy and puberty. As a noun, it is defined as: a young person especially between infancy and puberty. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Child"?

Other words for "Child" include bairn, bambino, bud, chap, chick, cub, juvenile and kid. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Child" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Child"?

There are 108 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Child". Common alternatives include bairn, bambino, bud, chap, chick, cub, juvenile, kid, kiddie and kiddo.

What is the opposite of "Child"?

Antonyms of "Child" include adult, grown-up, antecedent, causation, cause, occasion and reason. Near antonyms include middle-ager, ancient, elder and golden-ager.

How do you use "Child" in a sentence?

Examples of "Child" in a sentence: "an imaginative animated film that appeals to adults as well as to children"; "wrapped the child in a blanket before taking him outside in the cold"; "widespread stress is the child of the frenetic pace of the modern world".

Is "Child" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Child" is a noun.

Is "Child" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Child" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Child"?

"Child" is pronounced /ˈchī(-ə)ld/.