adulthood

[ uh-duhlt-hood ]

noun

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

   My mother raised four children to adulthood.

Word History and Origins

Origin of adulthood¹

adult ( def ) + -hood ( def )

Example Sentences

He tells her about his divorce from his ex-wife, his two adult sons.

From Vox

Their computers spent nearly 9,000 hours running equations, and their model, published in August as a preprint, shows that if there is only a low supply of vaccine at first, older adults should be prioritized if the goal is to reduce deaths.

From Singularity Hub 

One 16-year-old told police it was “obvious” she and a friend who met Erasquin were not adults.

From Washington Post

The only thing successful about Thursday’s news conference, Kimmel argued, was the fact that it did not take place in the parking lot next to an adult shop.

From Washington Post

In that way it’s like learning a language—children can assimilate the game’s complex rules and action much more intuitively and quickly than an adult.

From Nautilus

It is hardly a rejection of adulthood, rather a momentary escape from routine.

From The Daily Beast

To appreciate the Palmer paradox, it's important to understand that Palmer's childhood and young adulthood were dichotomous.

From The Daily Beast

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

From The Daily Beast

The play, set in 1982, depicts the struggles of three privileged slackers to come to terms with impending adulthood.

From The Daily Beast

As an adulthood now living out his passion, his dedication sometimes borders on obsession.

From The Daily Beast

No one of these characters alone was accepted as proof of adulthood but only the three in combination.

From Project Gutenberg

Reproductive-wise, there is no question as to adulthood; each of the four females was pregnant.

From Project Gutenberg

The idea of education as preparation and of adulthood as a fixed limit of growth are two sides of the same obnoxious untruth.

From Project Gutenberg

The Youth, advanced to adulthood, proceeded to steal things of still greater value.

From Project Gutenberg

Dombey and Son is full of appeals for the tender sympathy of adulthood for childhood.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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