juvenile

The word "juvenile" can be used as an adjective or as a noun when describing a person who is a child or a teenager–anyone who is under the age of 18. This word is commonly used in formal settings such as a hospital or a court of law:

• The police arrested two female juveniles who were caught breaking into a store.
• They were placed in juvenile detention.
• Children under the age of eighteen are usually tried in a juvenile court.
• The doctor operated on a juvenile patient.
• Juvenile diabetes is a serious problem in the United States.

Sometimes the word "juvenile" is used to describe childish behavior for children and adults:

• That’s so juvenile!
• There’s way too much inappropriate and juvenile behavior in that office.
• Our class has a lot of juvenile delinquents in it.
• Her juvenile attitude is what gets her into trouble.

He won’t go to jail for this because he’s a juvenile.

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November 11, 2015