adulthood

American  

[uh-duhlt-hood] / əˈdʌlt hʊd /

noun

1. the state or period of being fully grown, fully developed, or of age.

   My mother raised four children to adulthood.

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Etymology

Origin of adulthood

adult ( def. ) + -hood ( def. )

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Explanation

When you stop growing and start shaving, you are in adulthood — a point where you reach maturity. Unfortunately, physical adulthood does not necessarily imply that psychological adulthood is present. Adulthood implies a maturity of sorts, whether it be physical or psychological. In many cultures, adulthood is marked with a “coming of age” ritual. In Judaism for example, adulthood is marked by the Bat Mitzvah for girls (age 12) and the Bar Mitzvah for boys (age 13) — in which the girl or boy is considered to have reached adulthood within the community.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adulthood

“I think that 85-95% of the eggs will hatch . . . and a few will survive to adulthood and return to nest on a California beach in 10-15 years.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026

A department spokesperson added: "Work is underway within a financially-constrained environment to improve clarity, consistency and support for people as they move into adulthood."

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

The less amusing implication is how many have been allowed to reach adulthood without anyone expecting them to know how.

From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026

His therapy sessions raised questions like, “What does it mean to take your anger from childhood all the way into adulthood? Is that a kind of cancer?”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 22, 2026

Uncle Cent, who had been there so much in their childhood and in their adulthood, too.

From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman

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