A juvenile is a child or young person who is not yet old enough to be regarded as an adult.
[formal]
The number of juveniles in the general population has fallen by a fifth in the past10 years.
Synonyms: child, youth, minor, girl More Synonyms of juvenile
2. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Juvenile activity or behaviour involves young people who are not yet adults.
Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.
...a scheme to lock up persistent juvenile offenders.
Synonyms: young, junior, adolescent, youthful More Synonyms of juvenile
3. adjective
If you describe someone's behaviour as juvenile, you are critical of it because you think that it is silly or childish.
[disapproval]
Don't be so juvenile!
Synonyms: immature, childish, infantile, puerile More Synonyms of juvenile
4. countable noun
Young animals are sometimes referred to as juveniles.
juvenile in British English
(ˈdʒuːvɪˌnaɪl)
adjective
1.
young, youthful, or immature
2.
suitable or designed for young people
juvenile pastimes
3.
(of animals or plants) not yet fully mature
4.
of or denoting young birds that have developed their first plumage of adult feathers
5. geology
occurring at the earth's surface for the first time; new
juvenile water
juvenile gases
noun
6.
a juvenile person, animal, or plant
7.
an actor who performs youthful roles
8.
a book intended for young readers
Derived forms
juvenilely (ˈjuveˌnilely)
adverb
juvenileness (ˈjuveˌnileness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin juvenīlis youthful, from juvenis young
juvenile in American English
(ˈdʒuvəˌnaɪl; ˈdʒuvənəl)
adjective
1.
a.
young or youthful
b.
immature or childish
2.
of, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young persons
3. Geology
emanating from the interior of the earth for the first time: said of gas, water, etc.
noun
4.
a young person; child or youth
5.
an actor who plays youthful roles
6. US
a book for young people
7.
a two-year-old race horse
8. Biology
a young plant or animal differing variously in form, features, etc. from the adult
SIMILAR WORDS: young
Word origin
L juvenilis < juvenis, young
Examples of 'juvenile' in a sentence
juvenile
He was a useful juvenile hurdler last season and was always likely to improve for the switch to fences.
The Sun (2016)
He's come up against some of the best juvenile hurdlers and this is much easier.
The Sun (2016)
That contest is about the strongest juvenile form around and he clearly sets the standard.
The Sun (2014)
There has not been a more impressive juvenile winner this season.
The Sun (2008)
The alternative for those who leave juvenile detention is to end up on the streets.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
His first crop as a stallion won three of the five juvenile races.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He also makes a habit of targeting this juvenile hurdle.
The Sun (2008)
He was traumatised by the years spent in juvenile and adult jails.
The Sun (2009)
His juvenile form was good and he deserves a shot at a race like this.
The Sun (2016)
My son is locked up at the juvenile detention center this morning.
Christianity Today (2000)
Still entered in all the big autumn juvenile races, he can bounce back to form.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
And Flat form does count in juvenile hurdles.
The Sun (2012)
He has shown improved form since stepping up to a mile and a half and is still well in on his juvenile form.
The Sun (2013)
This colt ran four times as a juvenile, showing smart form on both attempts at this trip.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Meanwhile juvenile crime has dropped.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
A similar survey this summer found only one, a juvenile male.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This episode focuses on one juvenile male chimp as he tries to befriend the dominant males in his troupe, with varying degrees of success.
The Sun (2014)
My tip was a Group 3 winner as a juvenile but disappointed last term.
The Sun (2009)
The increase in juvenile crime throughout the 1970s appeared to confirm the critics' views.
Brown, Muriel & Payne Sarah Introduction to Social Administration in Britain (1990)
Although it''s hard to nail down these juveniles at this time of year he looks pretty smart.
The Sun (2016)
In other languages
juvenile
British English: juvenile NOUN
A juvenile is a child or young person who is not yet old enough to be regarded as an adult.
The number of juveniles in the general population has fallen by a fifth in the past 10 years.
American English: juvenile
Brazilian Portuguese: jovem
Chinese: 青少年
European Spanish: joven
French: jeune
German: Jugendliche
Italian: giovane
Japanese: 未成年者
Korean: 청소년
European Portuguese: jovem
Latin American Spanish: joven
British English: juvenile ADJECTIVE
Juvenile activity or behaviour involves young people who are not yet adults.
Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.
American English: juvenile
Brazilian Portuguese: juvenil
Chinese: 青少年
European Spanish: juvenil
French: des jeunes
German: Jugend-
Italian: giovanile
Japanese: 未成年者の
Korean: 청소년의
European Portuguese: juvenil
Latin American Spanish: juvenil
All related terms of 'juvenile'
juvenile court
A juvenile court is a court which deals with crimes committed by young people who are not yet old enough to be considered as adults .
juvenile hormone
a hormone , secreted by insects from a pair of glands behind the brain , that promotes the growth of larval characteristics and inhibits metamorphosis
juvenile offender
a child or young person who has been found guilty of some offence , act of vandalism , or antisocial behaviour before a juvenile court
juvenile delinquency
Juvenile delinquency is destruction of property and other criminal behaviour that is committed by young people who are not old enough to be legally considered as adults .
juvenile delinquent
A juvenile delinquent is a young person who is guilty of committing crimes , especially destruction of property or violence .
diabetes
Diabetes is a medical condition in which someone has too much sugar in their blood .
youth court
a court that deals with juvenile offenders and children beyond parental control or in need of care
Chinese translation of 'juvenile'
juvenile
(ˈdʒuːvənaɪl)
adj
[crime, offender, court]青少年的 (qīngshàonián de)
(pej)[humour, mentality, person]幼稚的 (yòuzhì de)
n(c)
(frm) 青少年 (qīngshàonián) (名, míng)
(noun)
Definition
a young person
The number of juveniles in the general population has fallen.
Synonyms
child
This film is not suitable for children.
youth
gangs of youths who broke windows and looted shops
minor
The approach has virtually ended cigarette sales to minors.
girl
boy
teenager
As a teenager he attended the local high school.
infant
adolescent
Adolescents are happiest with small groups of close friends.
Opposites
adult
,
grown-up
1 (adjective)
Definition
young
a scheme to rehibilitate persistent juvenile offenders
Synonyms
young
I was still too young to understand what was going on.
junior
adolescent
her adolescent years
youthful
youthful enthusiasm and high spirits
immature
You're just being childish and immature.
Opposites
adult
,
responsible
,
mature
,
grown-up
2 (adjective)
Definition
immature in behaviour
As he gets older he becomes more juvenile.
Synonyms
immature
childish
I've never seen such selfish and childish behaviour.
infantile
This kind of humour is infantile and boring.
puerile
puerile schoolboy humour
young
youthful
inexperienced
They are inexperienced when it comes to decorating.
boyish
He has a boyish enthusiasm for life.
callow
Although he's 25, he still behaves like a callow youth in some ways.
undeveloped
damage to the undeveloped foetus
unsophisticated
girlish
a little girlish giggle
babyish
I'm ashamed of the babyish nonsense I write.
jejune (formal)
They were of great service in correcting my jejune generalizations.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adolescent
Definition
an adolescent person
Adolescents are happiest with small groups of close friends.
Synonyms
teenager,
girl,
boy,
kid (informal),
youth,
lad,
minor,
young man,
youngster,
young woman,
juvenile,
young person,
lass,
young adult
in the sense of adolescent
Definition
of or relating to adolescence
her adolescent years
Synonyms
young,
growing,
junior,
teenage,
juvenile,
youthful,
childish,
immature,
boyish,
undeveloped,
girlish,
puerile,
in the springtime of life
in the sense of babyish
I'm ashamed of the babyish nonsense I write.
Synonyms
childish,
young,
simple,
soft (informal),
silly,
spoiled,
juvenile,
foolish,
immature,
boyish or girlish,
infantile,
sissy,
puerile,
namby-pamby,
baby
Synonyms of 'juvenile'
juvenile
Explore 'juvenile' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of boyish
He has a boyish enthusiasm for life.
Synonyms
youthful,
young,
innocent,
adolescent,
juvenile,
childish,
immature,
green,
childlike
in the sense of callow
Definition
young and inexperienced
Although he's 25, he still behaves like a callow youth in some ways.
Synonyms
inexperienced,
juvenile,
naïve,
immature,
raw,
untried,
green,
unsophisticated,
puerile,
guileless,
jejune (formal),
unfledged
in the sense of childish
Definition
immature or silly
I've never seen such selfish and childish behaviour.
Synonyms
immature,
silly,
juvenile,
foolish,
trifling,
frivolous,
infantile,
puerile
in the sense of girlish
a little girlish giggle
Synonyms
youthful,
feminine,
childish
in the sense of inexperienced
Definition
having no knowledge or experience of a particular situation, activity, etc.
They are inexperienced when it comes to decorating.
Synonyms
new,
unskilled,
untrained,
green,
fresh,
amateur,
raw,
unfamiliar,
unused,
callow,
immature,
unaccustomed,
untried,
unschooled,
wet behind the ears (informal),
unacquainted,
unseasoned,
unpractised,
unversed,
unfledged
in the sense of infantile
Definition
childishly immature
This kind of humour is infantile and boring.
Synonyms
childish,
immature,
puerile,
babyish,
young,
weak
in the sense of jejune
Definition
simple and unsophisticated
They were of great service in correcting my jejune generalizations.
Synonyms
simple,
silly,
juvenile,
naive,
pointless,
childish,
immature,
senseless,
unsophisticated,
puerile
in the sense of minor
Definition
a person below the age of legal majority
The approach has virtually ended cigarette sales to minors.
Synonyms
child,
youth,
teenager,
infant,
adolescent,
kid (informal),
teen (informal),
munchkin (informal, US),
littlie (Australian, informal),
tacker (Australian, slang)
in the sense of puerile
Definition
silly and childish
puerile schoolboy humour
Synonyms
childish,
juvenile,
naive,
weak,
silly,
ridiculous,
foolish,
petty,
trivial,
irresponsible,
immature,
infantile,
inane,
babyish,
jejune (formal)
in the sense of teenager
Definition
a person between the ages of 13 and 19
As a teenager he attended the local high school.
Synonyms
youth,
minor,
adolescent,
juvenile,
girl,
boy
Additional synonyms
in the sense of undeveloped
Definition
not yet mature or adult
damage to the undeveloped foetus
Synonyms
potential,
immature,
embryonic,
in embryo
in the sense of youth
Definition
Journalists often refer to young men as youths, especially when they are reporting that the young men have caused trouble.
gangs of youths who broke windows and looted shops
Synonyms
boy,
lad,
youngster,
kid (informal),
teenager,
young man,
adolescent,
teen (informal),
stripling,
young shaver (informal),
shaveling (archaic)
in the sense of youthful
Definition
of, relating to, possessing, or associated with youth