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
Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
The stalks on the juvenile Arthropleura resemble those of a crab, which could point to the creature having an amphibious youth before becoming terrestrial in adulthood.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2024
Responding officers found several victims before soon arresting a juvenile at the scene, per police.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for juvenile 
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Adjective
The company continues to focus on advancing SLK in Phase 3 clinical trials for hidradenitis suppurativa and psoriatic arthritis, with additional trials planned for juvenile HS, palmoplantar pustulosis, and axial spondyloarthritis.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
The stalks on the juvenile Arthropleura resemble those of a crab, which could point to the creature having an amphibious youth before becoming terrestrial in adulthood.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
So far this year, 37 juveniles have been shot in Cincinnati, according to police data.
—Cameron Knight, The Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2024
Responding officers found several victims before soon arresting a juvenile at the scene, per police.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 25 Oct. 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 22 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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