# children

/ˈtʃɪɫdɹən/ (US) · /tʃˈɪldɹən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/children
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. young people

noun · CEFR A1

more than one young person who is not yet an adult.

For teachers: the plural form of child, denoting multiple young human beings before the age of puberty.

- The children were playing happily in the park after school.
- The local library offers a variety of reading programmes designed to engage children of all ages during the summer holidays.

### 2. sons and daughters

noun · CEFR A2

your sons or daughters, even if they are now adults.

For teachers: offspring of any age in relation to their parents.

- They have three grown children who all live in different cities.
- Even though her children are now successful professionals with families of their own, she still worries about them constantly.

Usage: Often used with a possessive pronoun like 'their' or 'my'.

## Examples

- The children are playing in the park.
- Most parents want to provide a better life for their children than they had themselves.
- While the primary school caters to young children, the community centre provides resources for families and their adult children who may still require support.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.