# younger

/ˈjəŋɡɝ/ (US) · /jˈʌŋɡɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/younger
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. more young

adjective · CEFR A1

having lived for less time than someone else.

For teachers: the comparative form of 'young', indicating a lesser age relative to another person or group.

- My younger brother is still in primary school while I am at university.
- The younger generation of researchers tends to be more comfortable with data-driven methodologies than their predecessors.

Usage: Followed by 'than' when making a direct comparison.

### 2. junior

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

used after a person's name to show they are the son of someone with the same name.

For teachers: used as a postpositive modifier or title to distinguish a son from a father with the identical name.

- The book was written by William Pitt the Younger.
- Historians often distinguish between the two politicians by referring to the son as 'the Younger' to avoid confusion in archival records.

Usage: Usually placed after the name and preceded by 'the'.

Teaching tip: This is mostly found in history books or formal biographies; in everyday American English, 'Junior' is much more common.

### 3. a person who is less old

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

someone who is not as old as you or someone else.

For teachers: a person of lesser age than another, often used in the plural to describe a group.

- She was always very kind to her youngers at the sports club.
- It was once considered a social requirement to show deference to one's elders and set a moral example for one's youngers.

Usage: Often used in the plural form 'youngers' or in the phrase 'one's youngers'.

Teaching tip: This noun use is quite rare in modern conversation; students will mostly encounter it in older literature or very formal speeches.

## Examples

- My younger brother is still in school.
- The younger generation often adapts to new technology much faster than their parents do.
- While the younger candidate lacked extensive political experience, her fresh perspective on urban planning resonated deeply with the local electorate during the primary debates.

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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.