adulthood
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of adulthood
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.
Vocabulary lists containing adulthood
Sula
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-dom and -hood
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Less than 4% completed a four-year degree, according to the California Youth Transitions to Adulthood Study.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2024
Adulthood is very different from what she had anticipated.
From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2022
Deacon appeared with Clarke in 2006 film Kidulthood and its 2008 follow-up Adulthood, which Clarke also directed.
From BBC • May 4, 2021
Adulthood is just around the bend; you’ll have plenty of time to defy your mother’s worst wishes.
From Slate • Jan. 8, 2021
Its title glowed in silver foil on the spine: Adulthood.
From "Aru Shah and the End of Time" by Roshani Chokshi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
