adolescence
[ ad-l-es-uh ns ]
/ ˌæd lˈɛs əns /
noun
the transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development, extending mainly over the teen years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached; youth.
the process or state of growing to maturity.
a period or stage of development, as of a society, preceding maturity.
RELATED WORDS
Nearby words
ado, ado-ekiti, adobe, adobe flat, adobo, adolescence, adolescent, adolescent medicine, adolf, adon olam, adonai
Origin of adolescence
Can be confused
adolescence adolescents (see synonym study at adolescent)Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for adolescence
British Dictionary definitions for adolescence
adolescence
/ (ˌædəˈlɛsəns) /
noun
the period in human development that occurs between the beginning of puberty and adulthood
Word Origin for adolescence
C15: via Old French from Latin adolēscentia, from adolēscere to grow up, from alēscere to grow, from alēre to feed, nourish
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medicine definitions for adolescence
adolescence
[ ăd′l-ĕs′əns ]
n.
The period of physical and psychological development from the onset of puberty to complete growth and maturity.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for adolescence
adolescence
[ ăd′l-ĕs′əns ]
The period of physical and psychological development from puberty to the onset of adulthood.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.