youngest
Elementary (A2)
IPA: /ˈjʌŋɪst/
KK: /jʌŋɪst/
adjective
Definition
The term used to describe the person or thing that is the least old in a group.
Example
She is the youngest member of the team.
Comparatives & Superlatives
Comparative: younger
Superlative: youngest
Conversation
Did you know that Sarah is the youngest in her family?
Really? I thought she was older than that!
Yeah, she just turned 18 last week.
That’s surprising! She seems so mature for her age.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
latest
newest
young
Antonyms
oldest
mature
aged
noun
Definition
A person or thing that is the least old in a group, often referring to the smallest child in a family.
Example
She is the youngest in her family, always getting special treatment.
Conversation
Did you know that Sarah is the youngest in her family?
Really? I thought she was the same age as Tom.
Nope, she's a few years younger than him.
Root Explanation
Youngest → It is formed from "young" (from Old English *geong*, meaning youthful or not old) and "-est" (a superlative suffix indicating the highest degree). The word "youngest" means the one who is the most youthful or the least old in a group.
Memory Tip
Think of 'young' as being youthful and '-est' as indicating the highest degree — so 'youngest' means the most youthful.
Visually Confused Words
congest