teenager
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of teenager
Explanation
If you're younger than 20 but older than 12, congratulations! You're a teenager! Teenagers are also known as teens or adolescents. Generally, teenagers have finished elementary school, are growing fairly quickly, and are in the last stage of development before they become official adults. As a teenager, the things you may do include graduating from high school, getting a driver's license, and working at a paid job. Before teenager was coined in the 1920s, the word was teener.
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.
“I was your typical teenager thinking I was invincible,” she said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026
Granted a wildcard into the women's doubles of the WTA tournament, Williams and Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko will face third seeds Erin Routliffe and Nicole Melichar-Martinez in the grass-court event, a warm-up for Wimbledon.
From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026
When Jenkins first called to invite Quayle to Florida, the Briton told him he had met Williams when he was a teenager.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Zverev has been tipped to win one of the sport's biggest prizes since he emerged as a teenager - but his journey to a major trophy has taken longer than many expected.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
“I shouldn’t let her get to me. I mean, we’re talking about someone who felt the need to prove she was a badass at the expense of a random teenager asking a completely valid question.”
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
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.
