childhood

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "childhood" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the period of life when a person is a child, typically from birth to adolescence. Example: "Her childhood was filled with adventures and imagination, as she spent her days exploring the woods behind her house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Among those rounded up and killed were Piechowski's childhood friends, and the teenager was terrified.

The Guardian

OH Idea: Breeding sweet potatoes to contain betacarotene, to help in the fight against childhood blindness.

The Guardian

To my horror, I realised that I was inadvertently hearing the truth about a vast conspiracy that had dogged me throughout my childhood.

The Guardian - Opinion

It's a chance to lose yourself in the pleasures of childhood escapades - dirt, occasional nudity and malt loaf pit stops.

The Guardian - Travel

A lot of the time they are a group of young men who have been friends since childhood who end up committing crimes for money.

The Guardian

André has raised Mounir since childhood and is in a phony arranged marriage with his sister.

The Guardian - Film

If Jimmy Grimble is about the grim realities of childhood, it is also about the stories we tell ourselves that allow us to escape.

The Guardian - Film

"Whether it's my childhood or whatever, for someone to equate that with what I do as an actor is up to them, but it's too convenient to say it's because he grew up like this, that's why he's like that.

The Guardian - Film

In Glass Wings (Bloodaxe), Fleur Adcock is as clear-eyed as always in a collection that ranges widely over lost worlds, family histories and memories of childhood, but always maintains the art of seemingly artless observation.

The Guardian - Books

The two of them had a bond with Pink Floyd that dated back to their early days at Cambridge, where Thorgerson had ended up after an early childhood in Potters Bar, and time spent at the famously utopian Summerhill boarding school in Suffolk.

The Guardian - Music

Beyond the statistics, images lodge in Cabrera's memory: the dead 14-year-old in the brush last year; the eight-year-old girls leading their younger brothers and sisters through the desert ("She's caring for them like she's their mother. Her childhood has gone").

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "childhood" to refer to a general period, but use "boyhood" or "girlhood" for gender-specific references.

Common error

Avoid assuming that all "childhood" experiences have a universally negative or positive impact. Individual experiences and resilience vary greatly.

Linguistic Context

The word "childhood" primarily functions as a noun, referring to the state or period of being a child. Ludwig AI confirms its common usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "childhood" functions primarily as a noun signifying the state or period of being a child. Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts. The frequency of "childhood" is very common in News & Media. When writing about "childhood", it’s important to choose phrasing that highlights specific aspects, such as innocence, development, or memories. Be mindful of overgeneralizing the impact of "childhood", as experiences vary greatly. The term has neutral register and is generally suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

early years

Focuses on the initial phase of life, similar to "childhood".

early life

Emphasizes the initial stages of existence, encompassing infancy and early childhood.

formative years

Highlights the period of life that significantly shapes a person's development.

growing up

Emphasizes the process of maturing from a child into an adult.

youth

A broader term referring to the period between childhood and adulthood.

tender age

Highlights the vulnerability and innocence associated with early childhood.

boyhood

Specifically refers to the childhood of a male.

girlhood

Specifically refers to the childhood of a female.

developmental stage

Refers to a specific period in a child's growth and maturation.

days of infancy

Focuses on the earliest period of childhood, emphasizing the experience of being an infant.

FAQs

How can I use "childhood" in a sentence?

You can use "childhood" to refer to the period of being a child. For example, "Her "childhood" was filled with happy memories."

What are some words similar to "childhood"?

Similar words include "youth", "early years", and "formative years" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a childhood memory"?

Yes, "childhood memory" is a common and grammatically correct phrase. It refers to a memory from one's "childhood".

What's the difference between "childhood" and "adolescence"?

"Childhood" refers to the period from infancy to the beginning of puberty, while "adolescence" is the period of transition from "childhood" to adulthood, typically marked by puberty.