youngest

Youngest is the superlative form of the adjective young. It describes the member with the smallest age within a defined group. It can function as an adjective before a noun, as in the youngest child, the youngest researcher, or as a noun in phrases like the youngest among them.

The concept is relative: who is youngest depends on the group being considered, such as a family, a team, a cohort, or a population. It can apply to humans, animals, or even objects or events that are ordered by age, date, or duration. Examples include the youngest child in a family, the youngest litter member, or the youngest entrant in a competition.

Usage often appears in records, news, and competitive contexts to highlight achievements or milestones associated with youth. Phrases like “the youngest to win,” “the youngest ever,” or “the youngest participant” are common ways to frame such information. Age is typically measured in completed years in many contexts, though some settings use months or days, especially for infants or early childhood.

Related terms include oldest, elder, and middle (as in middle child). The concept of youngest interacts with cultural and legal definitions of age, which can affect eligibility for rights, responsibilities, or recognition. In summary, youngest denotes the person or thing with the least age within a specified group and is a flexible descriptor across domains.