juvenile
1 of 2adjective
ju·ve·nile ˈjü-və-ˌnī(-ə)l 
-nᵊl
-nᵊl 1
: physiologically immature or undeveloped : young
juvenile birds
2
a
: of, relating to, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people
juvenile fiction
b
: of or relating to young people who have committed or are accused of committing a criminal offense
the juvenile justice system
juvenile crime
3
: reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity : childish
juvenile behavior
juvenile pranks
told him he was being juvenile
4
: derived from sources within the earth and coming to the surface for the first time —used especially of water and gas
juvenile
2 of 2noun
plural juveniles
1
a
: a young person : youth
often, specifically : an individual who is under an age fixed by law (such as 18 years) at which he or she would be charged as an adult for a criminal act
… some states also have been changing their laws to give school administrators more access to the records of juveniles whose cases were processed by juvenile courts. 
Peter Schmidt
Peter Schmidt b
: a book for children or young people
2
: a young individual resembling an adult of its kind except in size and reproductive activity: such as
a
: a fledged bird not yet in adult plumage
b
: a 2-year-old racehorse
3
: an actor or actress who plays youthful parts
Synonyms
Adjective
- adolescent
- immature
- young
- youngish
- youthful
Noun
- bairn [chiefly Scottish]
- bambino
- bud
- chap [Southern & Midland]
- chick
- child
- cub
- kid
- kiddie
- kiddy
- kiddo
- moppet
- sprat
- sprout
- squirt
- whelp
- youngling
- youngster
- youth
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective She criticized his juvenile behavior at the party. a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg Noun She works to keep juveniles away from drugs. a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood
Recent Examples on the Web Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2022 Police arrested the boy, but the juvenile detention center would not accept him. cleveland, 29 July 2022 Sandy also had worked at a juvenile detention center and was aware of the dangers that lurked for teenagers, especially outside a structured life. Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2022 They are currently being held at a juvenile detention center. Paul Best, Fox News, 13 July 2022 They are being held at a juvenile detention center, police said. Ted Glanzer, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2022 In Kentucky, the state passed a juvenile code in 1986 that allows for life sentences as long as parole is considered after 25 years. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 In Kentucky, the state passed a juvenile code in 1986 that allows for life sentences as long as parole is considered after 25 years. Timothy Bella, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2022 Woodhams said all the communications and images involved juvenile males. Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2022 Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Sep. 2022 Sadly, 2nd occupant, a juvenile, died at the hospital. Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Abston was charged in May 2000, when he was still considered a juvenile, with kidnapping and aggravated robbery for allegedly forcing a prominent local attorney named Kemper Durand into his vehicle’s trunk. Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 Two men, a woman and a juvenile were arrested Tuesday in connection with a shooting that injured a bystander in Spring Valley’s La Presa neighborhood earlier this month, a sheriff’s official said. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 Police were called to a store at 9:24 p.m. Aug. 26 for a report of a juvenile attempting to buy a cigar. Brian Lisik, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2022 The person, a juvenile, was arrested on charges of carjacking while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, the report said. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 On Saturday, a judge set bail at $10 million for Valderama, who has a previous conviction for domestic battery against a juvenile in 2012. Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Watts wrote that the sentencing court took Malvo’s status as a juvenile into account. Brian Witte, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2022 See More
Adjective
He was then transported to a juvenile processing center where he was charged with first degree murder while armed, according to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia, which did not release the suspect's name. Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2022 Police arrested the boy, but the juvenile detention center would not accept him. cleveland, 29 July 2022 Sandy also had worked at a juvenile detention center and was aware of the dangers that lurked for teenagers, especially outside a structured life. Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2022 They are currently being held at a juvenile detention center. Paul Best, Fox News, 13 July 2022 They are being held at a juvenile detention center, police said. Ted Glanzer, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2022 In Kentucky, the state passed a juvenile code in 1986 that allows for life sentences as long as parole is considered after 25 years. Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2022 In Kentucky, the state passed a juvenile code in 1986 that allows for life sentences as long as parole is considered after 25 years. Timothy Bella, Anchorage Daily News, 28 Aug. 2022 Woodhams said all the communications and images involved juvenile males. Tracy Neal, Arkansas Online, 27 Aug. 2022 Noun
Her mother was also arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 7 Sep. 2022 Sadly, 2nd occupant, a juvenile, died at the hospital. Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 6 Sep. 2022 Abston was charged in May 2000, when he was still considered a juvenile, with kidnapping and aggravated robbery for allegedly forcing a prominent local attorney named Kemper Durand into his vehicle’s trunk. Fox News, 6 Sep. 2022 Two men, a woman and a juvenile were arrested Tuesday in connection with a shooting that injured a bystander in Spring Valley’s La Presa neighborhood earlier this month, a sheriff’s official said. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2022 Police were called to a store at 9:24 p.m. Aug. 26 for a report of a juvenile attempting to buy a cigar. Brian Lisik, cleveland, 30 Aug. 2022 The person, a juvenile, was arrested on charges of carjacking while armed, possession of a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a large-capacity ammunition feeding device, the report said. Antonio Planas, NBC News, 30 Aug. 2022 On Saturday, a judge set bail at $10 million for Valderama, who has a previous conviction for domestic battery against a juvenile in 2012. Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2022 Watts wrote that the sentencing court took Malvo’s status as a juvenile into account. Brian Witte, Baltimore Sun, 27 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
French or Latin; French juvénile, from Latin juvenilis, from juvenis young person — more at young
First Known Use
Adjective
1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1733, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing juvenile
Kids Definition
juvenile 1 of 2
adjective
ju·ve·nile ˈjü-və-ˌnīl
-və-nᵊl
1
: not fully grown or developed
a juvenile bird
2
: of or designed for young people
a juvenile magazine
3
: having or showing a lack of emotional maturity
juvenile pranks
juvenile
2 of 2noun
: a young person : youth
Medical Definition
juvenile 1 of 2
adjective
ju·ve·nile ˈjü-və-ˌnīl -vən-ᵊl
-vən-ᵊl 1
: physiologically immature or undeveloped
juvenile fish
2
: of, relating to, characteristic of, or affecting children or young people
juvenile arthritis
3
: reflecting psychological or intellectual immaturity
juvenile behavior
juvenile
2 of 2noun
1
: a young person
especially : one below the legally established age (as of 18) of adulthood
2
: a young individual resembling an adult of its kind except in size and reproductive activity
Legal Definition
juvenile
noun
ju·ve·nile
ˈjü-və-ˌnīl, -nəl
: an individual who is under an age fixed by law (as 18 years) at which he or she would be charged as an adult for a criminal act compare minor
juvenile 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in young
being in the early stage of life, growth, or development a juvenile alligator just hatched from its egg Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- young
- immature
- adolescent
- youthful
- teenage
- youngish
- teenaged
- subadult
- inexperienced
- infantile
- childish
- preteen
- puerile
- embryonic
- underage
- minor
- childlike
- emergent
- ephebic
- flowering
- babyish
- callow
- infantine
- burgeoning
- unfledged
- green
- undeveloped
- kiddish
- unripe
- unfinished
- unformed
- unripened
- blossoming
- flourishing
- raw
- blooming
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adult
- mature
- older
- old
- geriatric
- senior
- elderly
- matured
- senescent
- aged
- ancient
- aging
- ageing
- grown-up
- oldish
- golden
- ripe
- mellow
- long-lived
- ripened
- senile
- full-blown
- full-fledged
- doddering
- decrepit
- spavined
- middle-aged
- anile
- tottery
- over-the-hill
2
as in adolescent
having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children throwing a tantrum is rather juvenile behavior for a person of your age Synonyms & Similar Words
- adolescent
- childish
- immature
- infantile
- puerile
- babyish
- jejune
- kiddish
- bratty
- girlish
- childlike
- innocent
- boyish
- girlie
- brattish
- unsophisticated
- simple
- naive
- simplistic
- girly
- naïve
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adult
- mature
- grown-up
- sophisticated
- experienced
- worldly
- smart
- cosmopolitan
- knowing
- unchildlike
- worldly-wise
3
as in immature
lacking in adult experience or maturity a spoiled, juvenile golfer who does not know how to win gracefully Synonyms & Similar Words
- adolescent
- immature
- inexperienced
- young
- puerile
- callow
- unfledged
- infantile
- youthful
- childish
- unripe
- unformed
- green
- unripened
- babyish
- infantine
- innocent
- naive
- raw
- girlish
- infantilized
- wet behind the ears
- boyish
- youngish
- kiddish
- unsophisticated
- maidenly
- virginal
- ingenuous
- juvenescent
- untrained
- untried
- naïve
- unseasoned
- tender
- unknowing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adult
- mature
- ripe
- experienced
- advanced
- precocious
- grown-up
- sophisticated
- worldly
- savvy
- knowing
- worldly-wise
juvenile
2 of 2noun
as in kid
a young person who is between infancy and adulthood a medical study that followed juveniles through adolescence and into adulthood Synonyms & Similar Words
- kid
- child
- adolescent
- youth
- chick
- teenager
- cub
- youngster
- kiddie
- teen
- moppet
- baby
- monkey
- kiddy
- kiddo
- bud
- sprat
- youngling
- infant
- whelp
- minor
- toddler
- bairn
- sprout
- chap
- squirt
- newborn
- neonate
- bambino
- preschooler
- schoolboy
- weanling
- schoolchild
- kindergartner
- urchin
- nestling
- tyke
- schoolgirl
- tween
- preteen
- jackanapes
- rascal
- whippersnapper
- kindergartener
- bantling
- schoolkid
- cherub
- rapscallion
- rogue
- rug rat
- lad
- tot
- teenybopper
- mischief
- imp
- stripling
- tike
- hellion
- babe
- teener
- nipper
- tomboy
- tad
- shaver
- subteen
- devil
- hoyden
- preteen-ager
- bobby-soxer
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- adult
- grown-up
- elder
- oldster
- ancient
- senior citizen
- middle-ager
- senior
- golden-ager
- old-timer
Phrases Containing juvenile
- anchusins
- anchyl-
- anchylo-
- anchylose
- anchylosed
- anchyloses
- anchylosing
- anchylosis
- anchylostomiases
- anchylostomiasis
- ancien régime
- anciency
- ancienne noblesse
- ancient
- ancient demesne
- ancient history
- ancient light
- ancient murrelet
- ancient regime
- ancienter
- ancientest
- ancientlier
- ancientliest
- anciently
- ancientness