Words / A2

Y-ungst-uh/ˈjʌŋstə/

A youngster is a child or young person: the youngsters, a youngster of ten, local youngsters. Child is more standard; kid is informal. Youth can mean young people as a group or the time of being young. Plural: youngsters. Do not write youngster for gangster (criminal — wrong word).

Meaning

A child or young person.

Examples

• “The youngsters queued for ice cream.”
• “The youngsters ran ahead on the beach path.”
• “A youngster asked if the museum had a quiz.”

Good to know

the youngsters / a youngster of + age. Standard: child. Informal: kid. Group/time: youth.

Near in meaning

child

New