juvenile
JOO-vuh-nile
/ˈdʒuːvənaɪl/
Relating to young people; youthful; or, in a derogatory sense, childish.
In a legal context, it is a neutral descriptor for age. In a social context, it can be an insult implying someone is acting younger than their actual age.
The story behind the word. From the Latin 'juvenis', meaning young. It shares a common ancestor with the Roman goddess Juno, who was the protector of youth and marriage.
Word relationships
- adolescent: Adolescent is a biological and psychological term, while juvenile is more often legal or behavioral.
- adult: Adult refers to a person who has reached full legal age or maturity.
Commonly confused with
- puerile: Puerile is always negative and means 'childishly silly,' whereas juvenile can be a neutral legal term.
Word family
- juvenility (noun): The state of being youthful.
- rejuvenate (verb): To make someone feel or look young again.
Collocations
- juvenile court
- juvenile offender
- juvenile behavior
Example sentences
- "The juvenile justice system is a system in flux, moving toward more rehabilitative models." Legal reform discussion.
- "He was criticized for his juvenile sense of humor during the serious board meeting." Describing someone's behavior.
Memory hook
Think of 'Junior'—both words come from the same root of being younger. Juveniles are just juniors in the eyes of the law.
When not to use
Avoid using as a noun to refer to children in casual conversation; 'kids' or 'teens' is more natural.
Fun facts
- In biology, a 'juvenile' is an organism that has not yet reached its adult form but is no longer an embryo.
Related words
Explore more words
naive, petulant, adolescence, sentimental, precocious, foolish
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