juvenile

UK: /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl/

US: /ˈdʒuvənəl, -ˌnaɪl/

US: ( jo̅o̅′və nl, -nīl′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ju•ve•nile /ˈdʒuvənəl, -ˌnaɪl/   adj. 

1. of, characteristic of, or suitable for children or young people:
   juvenile books.
2. young;
   youthful.
3. immature;
   childish:
   juvenile temper tantrums.

n. [countable]

4. a young person;
   youth.
5. Show Business a person not old enough to be thought of, or treated as, an adult:
   a court for juveniles.

ju•ve•nile•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ju•ve•nile  ( jo̅o̅′və nl, -nīl′), adj. 

1. of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or suitable or intended for young persons:
   juvenile books.
2. Show Business young;
   youthful:
   juvenile years.
3. immature;
   childish;
   infantile:
   His juvenile tantrums are not in keeping with his age.

n. 

4. a young person;
   youth.
5. [Theat.]
   • Show Business a youthful male or female role.
   • an actor or actress who plays such parts.
6. a book for children.
7. Birds [Ornith.] a young bird in the stage when it has fledged, if altricial, or has replaced down of hatching, if precocial.
8. a two-year-old racehorse.

• Latin juvenīlis youthful, equivalent. to juven(is) youthful + -īlis -ile
• 1615–25

ju′ve•nile•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See young. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

juvenile / ˈdʒuːvɪˌnaɪl/ adjective

1. young, youthful, or immature
2. suitable or designed for young people: juvenile pastimes

noun

1. a juvenile person, animal, or plant
2. an actor who performs youthful roles
3. a book intended for young readers

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin juvenīlis youthful, from juvenis young

ˈjuveˌnilely adverb