JUVENILE

adolescent, jejune, juvenile, puerile

(adjective) displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity; “adolescent insecurity”; “jejune responses to our problems”; “their behavior was juvenile”; “puerile jokes”

juvenile

(adjective) of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people; “juvenile diabetes”; “juvenile fashions”

juvenile, juvenile person

(noun) a young person, not fully developed

Source: WordNet® 3.1

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Etymology

Adjective

juvenile (comparative more juvenile, superlative most juvenile)

Young; not fully developed.

Characteristic of youth or immaturity; childish.

Synonyms

• (characteristic of youth or immaturity): juvey (colloquial), milky, puerile; see also childish

Antonyms

• adult

• mature

• nonjuvenile

• old

• senile

Noun

juvenile (plural juveniles)

A prepubescent child.

A person younger than the age of majority; a minor.

(criminal law) A person younger than the age of full criminal responsibility, such that the person either cannot be held criminally liable or is subject to less severe forms of punishment.

(literature) A publication for young adult readers.

(theater) An actor playing a child's role.

(zoology) A sexually immature animal.

A two-year-old racehorse.

Synonyms

• (person younger than age of majority): infant (dated), juvie (colloquial)

Source: Wiktionary

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Ju"ve*nile, a. Etym: [L. juvenilis, from juvenis young; akin to E. young: cf. F. juvénile, juvénil. See Young.]

1. Young; youthful; as, a juvenile appearance. "A juvenile exercitation." Glanvill.

2. Of or pertaining to youth; as, juvenile sports.

Syn.

– Puerile; boyish; childish. See Youthful.

Ju"ve*nile, n.

Definition: A young person or youth; -- used sportively or familiarly. C. Bronté.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

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