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. )

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

By the time they reached adulthood and became susceptible to Bd, their immune defenses were already well established.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 15, 2026

Students overwhelmingly said exploring career interests is helping them make successful transitions into adulthood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

Natalie was described by her family as a "gentle and thoughtful young woman standing on the threshold of adulthood"

From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026

Of the 40 boys on that club team, 35 kept playing from childhood through adulthood.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

It was hard to believe that anyone, man or woman, could grow up to adulthood without ever having used a gun.

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac

Related Words

• boldness
• bravery
• courage
• fortitude
• masculinity
• mettle
• nobility
• potency
• virility