Children Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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children

[ˈtʃɪl.drən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

young age

Young human beings below the age of puberty or below the legal age of majority.

Synonyms

juveniles, kids, offspring, youngsters.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
children	General term for young humans, often used in both formal and informal contexts. The school bus will pick up the children at 8 AM. She has three children, all under the age of ten.
kids	Informal term often used in casual conversation. Suitable for friendly or familiar settings. Do you know what the kids want for dinner? The kids are playing in the backyard.
juveniles	Typically used in legal or academic contexts to refer to young people, especially in the context of behavior or crime. The juvenile court deals with cases involving minors. Juveniles are more likely to engage in risk-taking behaviors.
offspring	A formal and somewhat technical term referring to one's biological children, often used in scientific or formal contexts. The bird is known to protect its offspring aggressively. These plants produce numerous offspring each season.
youngsters	Informal term often used affectionately to refer to young people or children, typically in a positive or neutral context. The youngsters are excited about the upcoming field trip. Those youngsters really bring a lot of energy to the team.

Examples of usage

Children are the future of our society.
She has two children, a boy and a girl.
The school provides education for children from different backgrounds.
Children need love, care, and attention from their parents.
Child labor is illegal in many countries.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

descendants

A person's offspring, whether biological or adopted.

Synonyms

descendants, heirs, offspring, progeny.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
children	Used in everyday conversation to refer to young humans in general or one's own kids. She has three children who go to the local school Children love playing in the park
descendants	Usually used in more formal contexts to refer to people related to a particular person or group who lived in the past. The descendants of the ancient royal family still live in the area Future generations will learn about their ancestors through stories passed down by descendants
progeny	A formal or literary term for descendants or offspring, often implying multiple generations or a sense of legacy. The artist's progeny included several successful painters This species has very few progeny, making it vulnerable to extinction
offspring	A more technical or formal term often used in scientific contexts to describe the young of people, animals, or plants. The scientist studied the offspring of the breeding pair Offspring of those plants tend to grow faster
heirs	Used when discussing inheritance or someone who is legally entitled to receive property or a title after someone dies. She is the heir to her grandmother's estate The king's heir will take the throne next year

Examples of usage

The family reunion was attended by children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
He had no children of his own but was close to his nieces and nephews.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'children'

The word 'children' has its roots in Middle English from the Old English word 'cild', which meant 'fetus, infant, or youth'. Over time, the meaning evolved to refer to young human beings. Children are seen as a vulnerable group in society and are protected by various laws and regulations to ensure their well-being and development.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #170, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.

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167 certain
168 service
169 possible
170 children
171 until
172 question
173 whether
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