Youth

Popular use of the word youth refers to a person who is neither an adult nor a child, but somewhere in between, scientifically referred to as an adolescent and, in most English speaking countries, commonly referred to as a teen or teenager. It is used to identify a particular mindset of attitude, as in "He is very youthful".

The age in which a person is considered a "youth," and thus eligible for special treatment under the law and throughout society varies around the world. Commonly, a youth is defined as being somewhere between age 12 and age 26, with different countries and administrative regions choosing more narrow definitions within that frame. This treatment is increasingly negligible or negative, particularly in the United States where youth are routinely sentenced to longer sentences for similar crimes as adults.

In various social, political, cultural, and legal contexts, the word "youth" refers to a pre-determined set of experiences, ideals, and perspectives.