adulthood
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of adulthood
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.
Vocabulary lists containing adulthood
Sula
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-dom and -hood
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Adulthood, for me and many people my age, has been defined by moving from rental to rental.
From Slate • Apr. 3, 2024
But only 4.8% had attained that goal four years later, according to the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study.
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 10, 2023
Adulthood is very different from what she had anticipated.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2022
Clarke, who is best known for his work in Kidulthood, Adulthood and Brotherhood, has always "vehemently" denied "any sexual misconduct or criminal wrongdoing".
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2022
It was too far away for Aru to read, but she knew what it said: Adulthood.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
