What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
youngster
Example
The park was filled with youngsters playing on the swings and slides. [youngsters: plural noun]
Example
The little youngster was so excited to see the circus for the first time. [youngster: singular noun]
Example
He's a talented youngster who's just starting out in his music career. [youngster: adjective]
juvenile
Example
The juvenile offender was sentenced to community service. [juvenile: adjective]
Example
The zoo recently welcomed a new group of juvenile elephants. [juvenile: plural noun]
Example
His juvenile behavior was not appreciated by his coworkers. [juvenile: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Youngster is more commonly used in everyday language than juvenile. Youngster is a more general term that can be used to refer to any young child, while juvenile is more specific and often used in legal or scientific contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between youngster and juvenile?
Juvenile is more formal than youngster, which is often used in casual conversation or informal writing. Juvenile is often used in legal or scientific contexts, while youngster is more commonly used in everyday language.
