# youngest

/ˈjəŋɡəst/ (US) · /jˈʌŋɡəst/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. least old

adjective · CEFR A1

having the least age compared to everyone else in a group.

For teachers: the superlative degree of 'young', indicating the minimum age within a specific population or cohort.

- My youngest brother is still in primary school while the rest of us are working.
- The youngest candidate in the local election managed to secure a surprising number of votes from the student population.

### 2. most recently formed

adjective · CEFR B2

the newest or most recently started thing in a group.

For teachers: referring to the most recently established or initiated entity among several.

- This is the youngest department in the university, having only opened last year.
- Geologists determined that this volcanic island is the youngest in the chain, formed only a few thousand years ago.

### 3. the youngest person

noun · CEFR B1

the person who has the least age in a family or group.

For teachers: the individual possessing the lowest chronological age within a family unit or social group.

- As the youngest, she often felt that her older sisters didn't take her seriously.
- Being the youngest of five siblings, he quickly learned how to negotiate for attention and resources within the household.

Usage: often used with the definite article 'the'

## Examples

- She is the youngest child in her family.
- As the youngest member of the team, he often brings fresh perspectives that the more experienced staff might overlook.
- The youngest participants in the longitudinal study showed significantly higher rates of digital literacy compared to those born even a decade earlier.

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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.