youth

noun5

1. •
   the early part of life, before a person becomes an adult

   • Make the most of your youth, it will not last forever.
   • I made many mistakes in my youth, but learned from them all.
2. •
   Young persons, collectively.

   • The actual brides- and grooms-to-be are not in attendance—many youth would be embarrassed by their parents’ matchmaking efforts, and often do not live in the same city anyway. — 2012
3. •
   A young person.

   • There was a group of youths hanging around the parking lot, reading fashion magazines and listening to music.
4. •
   A young man; a male adolescent or young adult.

   • […]and then a youth appeared—no one quite knew where from or to whom he belonged—but he settled down with them in a happy-go-lucky way, and they all lived together. — 1919
5. •
   The quality or state of being young.

   • Her youth and beauty attracted him to her.