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Youth

n. hopeful, energetic everyday

What it means

Meaning 1

The early period of life associated with development and new possibility.

Reach for it when discussing a life stage without romanticizing or diminishing it

In her youth, she learned the repair techniques she now teaches.

Meaning 2

Young people considered collectively.

Reach for it when referring to a group of younger people in policy or community contexts

Local youth designed the new practice area and its rules.

Words to choose between 8

By register, from playful at the top to literary at the bottom, and by meaning across. Tap a word to see when it fits.
Meaning 1Meaning 2
everyday
warm
professional
formal

Meaning 1: The early period of life associated with development and new possibility.

  • everyday

    young age

    Fits when chronological earliness is the simple fact

    Careful Young age is awkward in many sentences and says less about a lived period.

  • warm

    early years

    Fits when childhood or the beginning of a career is meant

    Careful Early years can exclude adolescence and depends heavily on context.

  • professional

    adolescence

    Fits when the developmental period between childhood and adulthood is exact

    Careful Adolescence covers only part of what different contexts call youth.

  • professional

    young adulthood

    Fits when the post-adolescent stage is specifically intended

    Careful Young adulthood excludes children and teenagers included within youth.

Meaning 2: Young people considered collectively.

  • everyday

    young people

    Fits when clear person-first wording is preferred

    Careful Young people is plural and cannot replace youth as an abstract life stage.

  • professional

    adolescents

    Fits when a defined developmental group is meant

    Careful Adolescents excludes children and many young adults included in youth programs.

  • professional

    youth community

    Fits when a connected group and its shared interests are central

    Careful Youth community can imply unity that has not been established.

  • formal

    younger generation

    Fits when contrast with older generations is relevant

    Careful The phrase treats a diverse age group as one cohort and can overgeneralize.

Opposites 4

  • old age
  • later life
  • older people
  • elders

Common phrases 3

  • in her youth

    In her youth, Ana challenged the rule she later helped replace.

  • youth program

    The youth program pays participants for advisory work.

  • local youth

    Local youth chose shade and free water as the park's first priorities.

Usage notes

Keep in mind

Youth is not a single viewpoint or personality. Use young people when referring to people, and name the age range in policy or research.

Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Berkshire accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated