adolescent

American  

[ad-l-es-uhnt] / ˌæd lˈɛs ənt /

adjective

1. growing to manhood or womanhood; youthful.

   Synonyms:

   young, immature

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

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noun

1. an adolescent person.

   Synonyms:

   minor, teenager, youth

adolescent British  

/ ˌædəˈlɛsənt /

adjective

1. of or relating to adolescence

2. informal behaving in an immature way; puerile

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noun

1. an adolescent person

Other Word Forms

• adolescently adverb
• postadolescent adjective
• subadolescent adjective

Etymology

Origin of adolescent

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

The results also point to improvements in mental health and academic performance when school schedules better match adolescents' biological rhythms.

From Science Daily

Soon after, Docter canceled the project, which was based on its director’s adolescent experience with a platonic breakup.

From The Wall Street Journal

But the grouse rapidly grew into adolescents with good wing feathers.

From Literature

The early trial results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, show the experimental treatment can be given safely to adolescents and young children, from the age of two onwards.

From BBC

It’s part of what makes her desperate struggle for some adolescent normalcy so resonant.

From Salon

Related Words

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