adolescent

[ ad-l-es-uhnt ]

adjective

1. growing to manhood or womanhood; youthful.

   Synonyms: young, immature

2. having the characteristics of adolescence or of an adolescent.

noun

1. an adolescent person.

   Synonyms: minor, teenager, youth

adolescent

/ ˌædəˈlɛsənt /

adjective

1. of or relating to adolescence
2. informal.
   behaving in an immature way; puerile

noun

1. an adolescent person

Other Words From

• ado·lescent·ly adverb
• postad·o·lescent adjective noun
• subad·o·lescent adjective noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of adolescent¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Latin adolēscent- (stem of adolēscēns “growing up,” present participle of adolēscere ), equivalent to adol(ē)- ( adult ) + -ēsc- verb suffix + -ent- adjective suffix; -esce, -ent

Example Sentences

But for adolescent inmates, says U. S. Attorney Preet Bharara, “Rikers Island is broken.”

From The Daily Beast

What is new, however, is the role that technology is playing in adolescent sexuality.

From The Daily Beast

An investment in creating a non-violent world for adolescent girls will have many positive impacts.

From The Daily Beast

Adolescent girls are one of the most vulnerable populations in the world.

From The Daily Beast

A rite of passage solely reserved for adolescent girls, the painful custom is believed to be as old as the local creation myth.

From The Daily Beast

And could it not be extended from its present limited range until it reached practically the whole adolescent community?

From Project Gutenberg

It has come to the notice of the Committee that many parents are conniving at the practice of having liquor at adolescent parties.

From Project Gutenberg

I know of nothing better for the adolescent child than to teach him how properly to manicure his own nails.

From Project Gutenberg

Despite all of his reading, Dorothy's marriage made her, in his brown adolescent eyes, wholly intangible.

From Project Gutenberg

Such was my mad, adolescent prayer, while the stars seemed to answer in sympathetic silence.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• juvenile
• minor
• teenager
• tween
• youngster
• youth