adulthood

American  

[uh-duhlt-hood] / əˈdʌlt hʊd /

noun

1. the state or period of being fully grown, fully developed, or of age.

   My mother raised four children to adulthood.

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Etymology

Origin of adulthood

adult ( def. ) + -hood ( def. )

Explanation

When you stop growing and start shaving, you are in adulthood — a point where you reach maturity. Unfortunately, physical adulthood does not necessarily imply that psychological adulthood is present. Adulthood implies a maturity of sorts, whether it be physical or psychological. In many cultures, adulthood is marked with a “coming of age” ritual. In Judaism for example, adulthood is marked by the Bat Mitzvah for girls (age 12) and the Bar Mitzvah for boys (age 13) — in which the girl or boy is considered to have reached adulthood within the community.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adulthood

Puberty occurs in nearly every child who reaches adulthood, but unusually early puberty has been linked to health risks supported by known biological mechanisms.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 31, 2026

Watching “Scooby-Doo” as a child, I came away with two clear ambitions for adulthood: a side gig solving mysteries and a refrigerator always full of sandwich ingredients.

From Salon ● Jul. 30, 2026

Chronic disease is at epidemic levels in America and begins long before adulthood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

Yudith Meza spent part of her early adulthood living with her parents in their mobile home in Bell, in one of the parks slated to close.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 17, 2026

“What if adulthood isn’t a book?” asked Aru.

From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi

Related Words

• boldness
• bravery
• courage
• fortitude
• masculinity
• mettle
• nobility
• potency
• virility