Youngsters

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People in their formative years who typically demonstrate vitality and a sense of adventure
2. A demographic of individuals characterized by their limited life experience and inherent curiosity about the world
3. Individuals who are in the early stages of life, often showing energy and enthusiasm for new experiences

Etymology: "Youngsters" is simply the plural of "youngster," so its story is the story of that singular noun. "Youngster" combines "young" with the suffix "-ster," a suffix that English has long used to form nouns for people, often with a slightly playful or diminutive tone. The same suffix appears in words like "huckster" and "spinster," which show how it could attach to a verb or noun to name a person associated with an activity or condition. Attested from the early 17th century, "youngster" was a fresh coinage built from ordinary materials, which makes it a plain, transparent formation: a young person, with the suffix adding a touch of familiarity. Its later sense of someone full of vitality and adventure grew out of that basic meaning rather than replacing it.

Synonyms: children, youths, teenagers, kids, minors

Antonyms: adults, elders, seniors, grown-ups, mature individuals