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
Synonyms
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
Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The decision on Monday by Milwaukee County Juvenile Court Judge Jane V. Carroll gives direction to the case; the child's defense lawyers argued for months was more appropriate for the juvenile system.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024
Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Two juveniles on an e-bike threw vinegar on a person and his dog.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for juvenile 
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Adjective
Texas juvenile detention centers have a decadeslong history of violations and abuses, which began to be uncovered in the early 2000s by Texas newspapers.
—Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
The decision on Monday by Milwaukee County Juvenile Court Judge Jane V. Carroll gives direction to the case; the child's defense lawyers argued for months was more appropriate for the juvenile system.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 18 Nov. 2024
Noun
Roughly a half hour later, another person, who also was visiting Milwaukee, was approached by the two unnamed juveniles about two blocks from where the first crime occurred.
—Chris Ramirez, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
Two juveniles on an e-bike threw vinegar on a person and his dog.
—Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 12 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for juvenile
Articles Related to juvenile
Dictionary Entries Near juvenile
Cite this Entry
“Juvenile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/juvenile. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
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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