juvi

Meanings

1. 1noununcountableslanginformal

   A place where young people who have broken the law are kept, especially before a trial or as a short punishment.

   Grammar: Used without 'a' or 'the' in general references: He spent time in juvi. It can also be countable in some dialects, but that is less common.

   Patterns

   • in juvi
   • sent to juvi

   He got caught stealing and spent six months in juvi.

   The judge decided to send the teenager to juvi instead of prison.

   She works as a counselor at a juvi center.

2. 2nouncountableslanginformal

   A young person who has committed a crime or is under the care of the juvenile justice system.

   Grammar: Used as a countable noun: a juvi, the juvies. This sense is less common than the place meaning.

   Patterns

   • a juvi
   • the juvies

   The older kids in the neighborhood called him a juvi.

   Police picked up three juvies for vandalism.

Word forms

Common combinations

in juvi

He was in juvi for a year after the incident.

sent to juvi

The court sent him to juvi for the theft.

juvi center

The new juvi center will open next month.

juvi record

A juvi record can affect some job applications.

Synonyms and how they differ

juvie

This is the same word with a different spelling; 'juvie' is also common.

juvenile hall

This is a more formal term for the same place; it is used in official contexts.

youth detention center

This is the official term, used in formal writing and news reports.

Word family

juvenile adjective

Relating to young people, especially in legal contexts: juvenile crime.

Commonly confused: juvi or juvie?

Practice

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