What does child mean?
A child is a young human being, typically one who has not yet reached puberty or the age of legal adulthood. Beyond this primary meaning, the word carries several related senses: it can denote a son or daughter of any age, an infant before or at birth, or figuratively a person shaped by a particular era or environment — as in "a child of the internet age." The word is entirely neutral in tone and serves as the standard, all-purpose term across formal and informal contexts alike. Its plural, "children," is one of the few surviving irregular plurals in modern English, preserving an Old Germanic ending that has otherwise vanished from the language. Derived forms such as "childhood," "childish," and "childlike" show how deeply the concept is woven into English: "childish" suggests immaturity, while "childlike" connotes innocence and wonder, a subtle contrast worth noting. Common fixed phrases include "only child" and "child's play."
nounA young human being below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority; a son or daughter of any age.
- A young human being, especially one between infancy and adolescence.
- A person's son or daughter, regardless of age.
- An unborn or newly born human being (e.g. in pregnancy contexts).
- A person regarded as immature or naive in behavior.
- (Figurative) A descendant or product of a particular time, place, or influence (e.g. 'a child of the sixties').
"The child ran laughing across the meadow."
"Every child deserves access to quality education."
"As a child of immigrant parents, she grew up speaking two languages."
The plural is highly irregular, formed with the archaic "-ren" ending rather than the standard "-s." It is always used, never "childs."
"The playground was full of children playing tag."
"Child" is one of only a handful of English words whose plural is formed by adding "-ren" — a fossil of an Old English plural ending found almost nowhere else in the modern language.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of child
"Child" derives from Old English "cild," meaning fetus, infant, or young person, a word of Germanic origin whose deeper ancestry is uncertain. Its irregular plural "children" reflects a rare Old English plural formation using the "-r-" element also seen in the old plural "cildru," later extended with the "-en" ending. Related forms include the Middle English title "childe," used for a young man of noble birth, famously borne by Chaucer's Knight and by Byron's "Childe Harold." The word has been in continuous use since the earliest records of English.
Related word forms
How child is actually used
The word is neutral in register and appropriate in all contexts. In formal or legal writing, "minor" may be preferred when referring to someone under the age of legal majority. The plural is the irregular form "children." When referring to a son or daughter, the word can apply to adults as well as minors.
Easily confused with child
"Childe" is an archaic term for a young nobleman or youth of rank, whereas "child" is the ordinary word for a young human.
"Children" is simply the irregular plural of "child," not a separate word with its own meaning.