juvenile Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a young person, not fully developed
    juvenile person.
  2. adjective of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people
    • juvenile diabetes
    • juvenile fashions
  3. adjective satellite displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
    puerile; jejune; adolescent.
    • adolescent insecurity
    • jejune responses to our problems
    • their behavior was juvenile
    • puerile jokes

WordNet

Ju"ve*nile adjective
Etymology
L. juvenilis, from juvenis young; akin to E. young: cf. F. juvénile, juvénil. See Young.
Definitions
  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 noun
Definitions
  1. A young person or youth; -- used sportively or familiarly. C. Bronté.

Webster 1913