Youth vs. Young — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 3, 2023
Youth is the period of life when one is young, especially the time between childhood and maturity. Young: is having lived for a relatively short time; not old.
Difference Between Youth and Young
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Youth generally refers to a specific period in one's life, often seen as the time between childhood and adulthood. Young, on the other hand, is an adjective describing someone or something that has not lived or existed for a long time.
The term youth can also pertain to the collective of young people, such as in societal or cultural contexts. For example, one might discuss the perspectives or attitudes of the youth of a particular generation. Young, as an adjective, can be used to describe anything from people to animals to objects, indicating a lack of age or experience.
When considering the lifespan of a person, youth typically designates a particular phase, often associated with adolescence or the teenage years. Conversely, young simply designates that someone hasn't reached an older age, without specifying an exact phase.
In some contexts, youth can be used as a synonym for young people, collectively. For example, "The youth of today face many challenges." Young, being an adjective, requires a noun to modify: "The young artist showcased her work."
One might attend a "youth" conference, which is designed for young people, specifically. Alternatively, one might comment on a "young" wine, indicating it hasn't matured or aged significantly.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Part of Speech
Noun
Adjective
Refers to
Period between childhood and maturity; or collective of young people
Not old; having lived/existed for a relatively short time
Usage in Sentence
Can stand alone as a subject or object.
Requires a noun to modify.
Synonyms
Adolescence, teens
Juvenile, youthful
Contexts
Often used in societal or cultural contexts
Broadly used across contexts, from people to objects
Compare with Definitions
Youth
A young male.
A youth approached me asking for directions.
Young
Lacking experience.
The team is young but talented.
Youth
The time of life when one is young.
His passion for music started in his youth.
Young
Immature or not fully developed.
Young wine tends to be tarter and less complex.
Youth
The characteristics or quality of being young.
Her spirit and energy gave her a sense of youth.
Young
Having lived or existed for only a short time
A young girl
Young tender mint leaves
The young are amazingly resilient
Youth
The freshness and vitality characteristic of a young person
Young
Used to denote the younger of two people of the same name
Pitt the Younger
Youth
A young person, especially an adolescent.
The program is designed for the youth of the community.
Young
Offspring, especially of an animal before or soon after birth
Many grebes carry their young on their backs
Youth
Youth is the time of life when one is young, and often means the time between childhood and adulthood (maturity). It is also defined as "the appearance, freshness, vigor, spirit, etc., characteristic of one who is young".
Young
Being in an early period of life, development, or growth.
Youth
The period between childhood and adult age
He had been a keen sportsman in his youth
Young
Newly begun or formed; not advanced
A young biotech company.
Youth
A young man
He was attacked by a gang of youths
Young
Relating to, typical of, or suggestive of youth or early life
He is young for his age.
Youth
The condition or quality of being young
Travel while you still have your youth.
Young
Lacking experience; immature
A young hand at plowing.
Youth
The time of life between childhood and maturity
He was rebellious in his youth.
Young
Being the junior of two people having the same name.
Youth
An early period of development or existence
A nation in its youth.
Young
(Geology) Being of an early stage in a geologic cycle. Used of bodies of water and land formations.
Youth
A young person, especially a young male in late adolescence.
Young
Young persons considered as a group; youth
Entertainment for the young.
Youth
(used with a sing. or pl. verb) Young people considered as a group.
Young
Offspring; brood
A lioness with her young.
Youth
(Geology) The first stage in the erosion cycle.
Young
In the early part of growth or life; born not long ago.
A lamb is a young sheep;
These picture books are for young readers
Youth
(uncountable) The quality or state of being young.
Her youth and beauty attracted him to her.
Young
At an early stage of existence or development; having recently come into existence.
The age of space travel is still young;
A young business
Youth
(uncountable) The part of life following childhood; the period of existence preceding maturity or age; the whole early part of life, from childhood, or, sometimes, from infancy, to adulthood.
Make the most of your youth, it will not last forever.
I made many mistakes in my youth, but learned from them all.
Young
(Not) advanced in age; (far towards or) at a specified stage of existence or age.
How young is your dog?
Her grandmother turned 70 years young last month.
Youth
(countable) A young person.
There was a group of youths hanging around the parking lot, reading fashion magazines and listening to music.
Young
Junior (of two related people with the same name).
Youth
(countable) A young man; a male adolescent or young adult.
Young
(of a decade of life) Early.
Youth
Young persons, collectively.
Young
Youthful; having the look or qualities of a young person.
My grandmother is a very active woman and is quite young for her age.
Youth
The quality or state of being young; youthfulness; juvenility.
Such as in his faceYouth smiled celestial.
Young
Of or belonging to the early part of life.
The cynical world soon shattered my young dreams.
Youth
The part of life that succeeds to childhood; the period of existence preceding maturity or age; the whole early part of life, from childhood, or, sometimes, from infancy, to manhood.
He wondered that your lordshipWould suffer him to spend his youth at home.
Those who pass their youth in vice are justly condemned to spend their age in folly.
Young
(obsolete) Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
Youth
A young person; especially, a young man.
Seven youths from Athens yearly sent.
Young
(often as if a plural noun) Offspring, especially the immature offspring of animals.
The lion caught a gnu to feed its young.
The lion's young are curious about the world around them.
Youth
Young persons, collectively.
It is fit to read the best authors to youth first.
Young
To become or seem to become younger.
Youth
A young person (especially a young man or boy)
Young
To cause to appear younger.
Youth
Young people collectively;
Rock music appeals to the young
Youth everywhere rises in revolt
Young
(geology) To exhibit younging.
Youth
The time of life between childhood and maturity
Young
Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence, maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; - said of animals; as, a young child; a young man; a young fawn.
For he so young and tender was of age.
"Whom the gods love, die young," has been too long carelessly said; . . . whom the gods love, live young forever.
Youth
Early maturity; the state of being young or immature or inexperienced
Young
Being in the first part, pr period, of growth; as, a young plant; a young tree.
While the fears of the people were young.
Youth
An early period of development;
During the youth of the project
Young
Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
Youth
The collective of young people.
The youth are advocating for change.
Young
The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively.
[The egg] bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosedTheir callow young.
Young
Any immature animal
Young
United States film and television actress (1913-2000)
Young
United States civil rights leader (1921-1971)
Young
British physicist and Egyptologist; he revived the wave theory of light and proposed a three-component theory of color vision; he also played an important role in deciphering the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone (1773-1829)
Young
United States jazz tenor saxophonist (1909-1959)
Young
English poet (1683-1765)
Young
United States baseball player and famous pitcher (1867-1955)
Young
United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith; he led the Mormon exodus from Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah (1801-1877)
Young
Young people collectively;
Rock music appeals to the young
Youth everywhere rises in revolt
Young
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth;
Young people
Young
(of crops) harvested at an early stage of development; before complete maturity;
New potatoes
Young corn
Young
Having lived for a short amount of time.
A young child played at the park.
Young
Being in an early stage.
The young company is already showing promise.
Young
Fresh or recent.
The leaves are young and green in spring.
Common Curiosities
Is "youth" always singular?
While "youth" can be singular, it can also refer to young people collectively.
Can "young" describe something other than age?
Yes, "young" can also refer to something in its early stage or lacking experience.
Is "adolescence" a synonym for "youth"?
Yes, "adolescence" can be a synonym for "youth," especially when referring to the teenage years.
Can animals have "youth"?
Yes, "youth" can refer to the early life stages of animals.
Can "young" describe a feeling or appearance?
Yes, someone can "feel young" or "look young" regardless of their actual age.
Can "young" be used for objects?
Yes, objects like wine or companies can be described as "young."
Is "youth" always used to describe an individual?
No, "youth" can also describe the collective of young people.
Can "young" be used figuratively?
Yes, "young" can be used to describe something new or in its early stages, like a "young company."
Does "youth" always indicate a positive notion?
No, "youth" is neutral; the context determines its positive or negative connotation.
Can both "youth" and "young" describe plants?
"Young" is more commonly used for plants, like "young shoots." "Youth" typically refers to humans or animals.
How is "youth" different from "childhood"?
"Youth" often refers to the period between childhood and adulthood, while "childhood" specifically refers to the early years of life.
What does "youth culture" refer to?
"Youth culture" refers to the cultural norms and values of young people, often distinct from older generations.
How is "youth" used in a cultural context?
"Youth" can refer to the younger generation and their specific attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors.
Is "youthful" related to "young"?
Yes, "youthful" is an adjective derived from "youth," and it means having characteristics of young people.
Is "juvenile" a synonym for "young"?
Yes, "juvenile" can be a synonym for "young," especially when referring to young animals or people.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Vicar vs. Rector
Next Comparison
Courageous vs. IntrepidAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
