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adult

[ uh-duhlt, ad-uhlt ]

/ əˈdʌlt, ˈæd ʌlt /

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See synonyms for: adult / adults / adulthood / adultness on Thesaurus.com

noun

a person who is fully grown or developed or of age.

a full-grown animal or plant.

a person who has attained the age of maturity as specified by law.

adjective

having attained full size and strength; grown up; mature: an adult person, animal, or plant.

of, relating to, or befitting adults.

intended for adults; not suitable for children: adult entertainment.

verb (used without object)

Informal. (of a young person) to do things and assume responsibilities that are associated with being an adult; act like an adult (usually used facetiously about minor accomplishments): I cook dinner for myself most nights—guess that means I'm adulting.

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Origin of adult

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin adultus “grown” (past participle of adolēre “to make grow”), equivalent to ad- ad- + ul- (identical with base al- in aliment) + -tus past participle suffix

OTHER WORDS FROM adult

a·dult·hood, nouna·dult·like, adjectivea·dult·ly, adverba·dult·ness, noun

non·a·dult, adjective, nounqua·si-a·dult, adjectivesub·a·dult, adjective, nounsub·a·dult·ness, nounun·a·dult, adjective

Words nearby adult

adularia, adulate, adulation, adulatory, Adullamite, adult, adult education, adulterant, adulterate, adulteration, adulterer

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use adult in a sentence

Lundberg also touted recent innovations like the chocolate-covered Chocolate Thin Snackers and Organic Rice Cake Minis, a bite-sized version of the original product geared toward adults and kids crunching on the go.
The Rise and Fall of the Rice Cake, America’s One-Time Favorite Health Snack|Brenna Houck|September 17, 2020|Eater
Those impressions were made by herds of juvenile and adult animals, the scientists say.
Seven footprints may be the oldest evidence of humans on the Arabian Peninsula|Bruce Bower|September 17, 2020|Science News
A rear bench seat fits two adults or children, with three-point seat belts and rated LATCH child-seat attachments.
Can’t Afford a Sprinter? Get a Tiny Van Instead.|Emily Pennington|September 16, 2020|Outside Online
That means a family could link watches for a child or older adult to a parent’s iPhone.
Two new Apple Watches announced at Apple’s ‘Time Flies’ event|Aaron Pressman|September 15, 2020|Fortune

Among adults age 18 to 24, 62% oppose the executive order to force a sale of TikTok.
Could a TikTok shutdown cost Trump at the polls?|Lance Lambert|September 12, 2020|Fortune
Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on Adult Swim, The Boondocks.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical|Stereo Williams|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As of 2013, Jews make up 1.8 to 2.2 percent of the adult U.S. population.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Another side of Spider-Man that might be interesting to explore in a reboot is seeing him as an adult.
Exclusive: Sony Hack Reveals Studio's Detailed Plans For Another ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot|William Boot|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was under the impression that “girls” is a demeaning term for adult women.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It might feel fresh to see Peter Parker juggling with adult issues.
Exclusive: Sony Hack Reveals Studio's Detailed Plans For Another ‘Spider-Man’ Reboot|William Boot|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Few persons can attain to adult life without being profoundly impressed by the appalling inequalities of our human lot.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
But between the phase of schooling and the phase of adult learning there is an intermediate stage.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
And this college course I have sketched should, in the modern state, pass insensibly into adult mental activities.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
It stands very much in the way of that universal adult education which is our present concern.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Not more than one adult worker in ten—so at least it might with confidence be estimated—is employed on necessary things.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock

British Dictionary definitions for adult

adult

/ (ˈædʌlt, əˈdʌlt) /

adjective

having reached maturity; fully developed

of or intended for mature peopleadult education

regarded as suitable only for adults, because of being pornographicadult films and magazines

noun

a person who has attained maturity; a grownup

a mature fully grown animal or plant

law a person who has attained the age of legal majority (18 years for most purposes)Compare infant

Derived forms of adult

adulthood, noun

Word Origin for adult

C16: from Latin adultus, 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 adult

adult

[ ə-dŭlt′, ăd′ŭlt ]

n.

One who has attained maturity or legal age.

A fully grown, mature organism.

adj.

Fully developed and mature.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.