youngsters

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'youngsters' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to people who are young or who are in the early stages of their lives, usually in comparison to older or more experienced people. For example: "The youngsters were nervous when talking to the experienced professionals."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The challenge for the youngsters, and the hurdle Australian tennis has been falling at, will be in translating success in the juniors to the senior ranks, according to Mal Anderson, who won the US championship in 1957.

The Guardian - Sport

Sign up to Society briefing email 50% rise in long-term-unemployed youngsters from UK ethnic minorities Coalition Britain: after the teething problems, will universal credit work?

The Guardian

Though Noble spent two seasons training with United's youngsters, he never played again.

The Guardian - Sport

Watch here Much to the chagrin of older Green Day fans, who had the pleasure of pogoing/singing along to every word of the trio's much loved 1994 album, which the Cali punks played in its entirety, the youngsters were unimpressed.

The Guardian - Music

"The youngsters wanting to come in are more violent, they don't have what it takes," she said.

The Guardian

As Graham Kelly, the FA's chief executive, pointed out yesterday, youngsters wearing Manchester United shirts were standing close to the incident, faces frozen in horror.

The Guardian - Sport

Tottenham's Gylfi Sigurdsson runs the midfield while the youngsters Eggert Jonsson of Wolves and Ajax's Kolbeinn Sigborsson add pace and guile where there was only endeavour.

The Guardian - Sport

The only time I felt "older" was on the backpacker bus trail from Koh Tao to Khao Sok, where some studiously jaded youngsters viewed my cheery optimism with the contempt it obviously deserved.

The Guardian - Travel

"There are a growing number of youngsters who want to join jihad.

The Guardian

All of the recent good news has been forgotten in the past few days, however, with the publication in the French media of leaked tapes which capture Blanc and other officials from the French Football Federation talking about race quotas – 30% is the figure cited – which would effectively limit the number of non-white youngsters eligible for training for the French team at the age of 12.

The Guardian - Opinion

For one group of youngsters in particular, it can be little short of a nightmare.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "youngsters", consider the context and choose a term that best fits the situation. For formal writing, "young people" or "youth" may be more appropriate, while "kids" is suitable for informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "youngsters" when referring to specific age groups. If you're discussing teenagers, use "teenagers" or "adolescents" for greater clarity.

Linguistic Context

The word "youngsters" functions as a plural noun, referring to a group of young people. It is used to denote a collection of individuals who are in their youth, often in contrast to adults or older individuals, as Ludwig AI highlights.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Sport

20%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Travel

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "youngsters" is a common and generally acceptable term for referring to young people, although it's more suited for neutral to informal contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. For formal or academic writing, alternatives like "young people" or "youth" may be more appropriate. When using "youngsters", ensure it accurately represents the age group you're describing and avoid overgeneralization. The word is very frequent in News & Media.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

young people

A more formal and general term for individuals in their youth.

children

Refers to individuals in their early years, typically before adolescence.

youth

A collective term for young individuals, often used in a broader social context.

kids

An informal and common term for children.

adolescents

Specifically refers to individuals in the transitional stage between childhood and adulthood.

teenagers

Refers to individuals in their teens (13-19 years old).

minors

A legal term for individuals under the age of majority.

young adults

Refers to individuals in their early twenties, typically after adolescence.

the younger generation

A broader term encompassing all young people collectively.

juveniles

A legal term often used in the context of law enforcement and the justice system.

FAQs

How do I use "youngsters" in a sentence?

You can use "youngsters" to refer to a group of young people, such as in the sentence: "The local community center provides activities for "youngsters" after school".

What's the difference between "youngsters" and "children"?

"Youngsters" is a more general term for young people, while "children" specifically refers to individuals in their early years, before adolescence. The best choice depends on the specific age range you're describing.

Are there any formal alternatives to "youngsters"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "young people" or "youth", which are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "youngsters" instead of "teenagers"?

Use "youngsters" when referring to a group of young people of various ages, while use "teenagers" refers specifically to those aged 13-19. For example, "The program is designed for "youngsters" aged 8-16."