Youngest: meaning, definitions and examples

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youngest

 

[ ˈjʌŋɪst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

age comparison

The term 'youngest' refers to the individual or entity that is the least old in a particular group or context. It indicates the youngest in age among those being compared. This adjective is often used when discussing siblings, classmates, or in competitive environments, such as sports or awards. In many instances, the youngest person may be seen as having the least experience but also the most potential for growth.

Synonyms

infant, juvenile, little, minuscule, young

Examples of usage

  • She is the youngest child in her family.
  • He was the youngest member to join the team.
  • Among the candidates, she was the youngest by a year.
  • The youngest student in the class impressed everyone.

Translations

Translations of the word "youngest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mais jovem

🇮🇳 सबसे युवा

🇩🇪 jüngste

🇮🇩 termuda

🇺🇦 наймолодший

🇵🇱 najmłodszy

🇯🇵 最も若い

🇫🇷 le plus jeune

🇪🇸 el más joven

🇹🇷 en genç

🇰🇷 가장 젊은

🇸🇦 الأصغر

🇨🇿 nejmladší

🇸🇰 najmladší

🇨🇳 最年轻的

🇸🇮 najmlajši

🇮🇸 yngsti

🇰🇿 ең жас

🇬🇪 ყველაზე ახალგაზრდა

🇦🇿 ən gənc

🇲🇽 el más joven

Etymology

The word 'young' comes from Old English 'geong', which has roots in Proto-Germanic *jungaz, meaning 'young' or 'youthful'. Over time, the prefix 'young-' has been used to describe individuals at an early stage in life, with 'youngest' being a superlative form that emerged to denote the least age among a set of individuals. In English, the superlative is often formed by adding '-est' to adjectives, which is the case here. The idea of age and youth has evolved in various cultures, making the term crucial in social constructs concerning maturity and responsibility. The modern usage of 'youngest' can be seen across numerous contexts, from family dynamics to professional environments, highlighting the importance of age in societal structures.

Word Frequency Rank

At #6,957 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.