adj
juvenile
JOO-vuh-nyl
adj
1
Young or not yet fully grown; relating to young people.
"The zoo has a program to protect juvenile sea turtles."
2
Childish or immature in behaviour, especially for someone's age.
"His juvenile jokes got old fast."
noun
1
A young person, especially a minor under the age of legal adulthood.
"The court has separate procedures for juveniles."
How to Use Juvenile
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRelating to young people or youthfulness, or, negatively, behaviour that's childish.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
juvenile delinquent
juvenile court
juvenile behaviour
Word Forms
more juvenile comparative, juveniles plural, most juvenile superlative
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The zoo has a program to protect _____ sea turtles.
Etymology
From Latin iuvenilis, "youthful," from iuvenis, "young person" — the same root behind junior.