ju·ve·nile
ˈjü-və-ˌnī(-ə)l 
-nᵊl
-nᵊl
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
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
Examples of juvenile in a Sentence
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
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Video footage shared by the Institute shows the nearly one-foot-long juvenile squid floating at a depth of approximately 1968 feet below the waters around the South Sandwich Islands, a volcanic archipelago located between the tip of South America and Antarctica.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Kc Baker, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Two juveniles fled the vehicle on foot and were apprehended after a brief foot pursuit, Boisvert said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
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Adjective
For juvenile whales in particular, who spend more time near the surface and often explore coastal shallows, the risk is acute and growing.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Video footage shared by the Institute shows the nearly one-foot-long juvenile squid floating at a depth of approximately 1968 feet below the waters around the South Sandwich Islands, a volcanic archipelago located between the tip of South America and Antarctica.
—Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
There, officers found more than 100 juveniles, many ages 13 to 17, many of whom were consuming alcohol that was later learned to be available in coolers at the residence, police said.
—Kc Baker, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Two juveniles fled the vehicle on foot and were apprehended after a brief foot pursuit, Boisvert said.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for juvenile
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juvenile. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
juvenile
1 of 2 adjective
ju·ve·nile
ˈjü-və-ˌnīl
-vən-ᵊl
-vən-ᵊl
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of children or young people
juvenility
noun
ˌjü-və-ˈnil-ət-ē
juvenile
2 of 2 noun1
: a young person, animal, or plant
2
: a book for young people
3
: an actor who plays youthful parts
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 2 noun1
: 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
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