adolescence

[ ad-l-es-uhns ]

noun

1. the transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development, extending mainly over the teen years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached; youth.
2. the process or state of growing to maturity.
3. a period or stage of development, as of a society, preceding maturity.

adolescence

/ ˌædəˈlɛsəns /

noun

1. the period in human development that occurs between the beginning of puberty and adulthood

adolescence

/ ăd′l-ĕs′əns /

1. The period of physical and psychological development from puberty to the onset of adulthood.

Word History and Origins

Origin of adolescence¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin adolēscentia, from adolēscent-, stem of adolēscēns “growing up” ( adolescent ) + -ia -ia ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of adolescence¹

C15: via Old French from Latin adolēscentia, from adolēscere to grow up, from alēscere to grow, from alēre to feed, nourish

Example Sentences

Kids approaching adolescence get a brief discussion about confidentiality.

From The Daily Beast

And that was the soul, very active in adolescence—like everything else.

From The Daily Beast

It goes back with me not to childhood so much as to late adolescence.

From The Daily Beast

The moral duties and doubts of adulthood are swapped out for the histrionic creeds of adolescence.

From The Daily Beast

Across the globe, millions of boys and girls are betrothed so young they spend the majority of their adolescence already married.

From The Daily Beast

But it seems to me that with adolescence comes the right to knowledge and the right of judgment.

From Project Gutenberg

Dim, forgotten perils of adolescence come to my mind, as a cloud obscures the summer sun.

From Project Gutenberg

Unfortunately, the characteristics of the spoiled child do not vanish with childhood or even with adolescence.

From Project Gutenberg

The generation which numbered Bryan Dalyrimple drifted out of adolescence to a mighty fan-fare of trumpets.

From Project Gutenberg

Usually in early adolescence it bursts its casings and shoots into consciousness, powerfully affecting the emotions and the will.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• boyhood
• teens