adolescence

American  

[ad-l-es-uhns] / ˌæd lˈɛs əns /

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.

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adolescence British  

/ ˌædəˈlɛsəns /

noun

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

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adolescence Scientific  

/ ăd′l-ĕs′əns /

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

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Etymology

Origin of adolescence

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

Explanation

The period of time when you physically and emotionally transition from childhood to adulthood is called adolescence. Basically it's when you're old enough to want to be an adult, but young enough that no one takes you seriously! The noun adolescence comes from the Latin word adolescere, which means "to ripen" or "to grow up." So it makes sense that we use it to describe that unique age when kids start growing into something closer to grown-ups. Adolescence can also refer more specifically to puberty. When you were in your adolescence, it bothered you when your parents pried into your life. But now that your kids are adolescents, you do the same thing to them.

Example Sentences

If Euphoria once felt like an exaggerated but emotionally resonant portrait of Gen Z adolescence, its latest season has pushed that chaos to near-surreal extremes.

From BBC • May 30, 2026

By adolescence, while on the road with the Foo Fighters, Grohl would make herself useful by assisting the band’s tour manager.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

The host often mined his track record of uncoolness for punchlines, like when a 2022 headline about supply-chain problems led to a joke about an awkward adolescence spent avoiding team sports.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

That pattern raises the possibility that psychopathy may be connected to differences in brain development across childhood and adolescence.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

It means that someone has learned to live with high technology; that it is possible to survive technological adolescence.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Related Words

• boyhood
• teens