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.
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Origin of adolescence
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH adolescence
adolescence adolescents (see synonym study at adolescent)Words nearby adolescence
ado, ado-ekiti, adobe, adobe flat, adobo, adolescence, adolescent, adolescent medicine, adolf, adon olam, adonai
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences 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
Medical 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.
Scientific 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.