childhood friend
She still keeps in touch with her childhood friend from kindergarten.
She maintains contact with someone she knew and was friends with during her early childhood.
A person whom one has known and been friends with since early childhood.
My childhood friend and I promised to always support each other.
A friend from my early years and I vowed to help one another.
They met in elementary school and became lifelong childhood friends.
They knew each other in primary school and remained friends throughout their lives.
Often implies a deep, long-standing bond formed during formative years.
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Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'old friend'
While 'old friend' can mean a long-time friend, it may also imply an elderly person. 'Childhood friend' specifically indicates the friendship began in early life.
Gold Rule
Use for formative bonds
Reserve 'childhood friend' for relationships that began in early years (typically before adolescence). Do not use for friends met later in life, even if the friendship is long-standing.
Word Origin
The phrase combines 'childhood' (from Old English 'cildhād', meaning 'state of being a child') and 'friend' (from Old English 'frēond', meaning 'one who is attached to another by affection or esteem'). The compound emerged in the 18th century to describe relationships formed in early life.
Usage Notes
The term emphasizes the duration and origin of the friendship rather than its current status. It can refer to someone one knew in childhood but may no longer be close to. In some cultures, childhood friends hold special significance due to shared formative experiences.