maturity

[muh-choor-i-tee, -toor-, -tyoor-, -chur-]

noun

1. the state of being mature; ripeness.

   The fruit will reach maturity in a few days.

2. full development; perfected condition.

   maturity of judgment; to bring a plan to maturity.

3. Finance.

   1. the state of being due.

      There is always the danger that if you have to sell your home before maturity of your mortgage, you won't net enough cash from the sale to repay the loan in full.

   2. maturity date.

      The loan has reached its maturity and must be paid back in full.

   3. Usually maturities bonds and other investments having a fixed term.

      Some investors prefer short-term maturities to avoid tying up their money for a long period.

maturity

/ -ˈtʃʊə-, məˈtjʊərɪtɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being mature; full development

2. finance

   1. the date upon which a bill of exchange, bond, note, etc, becomes due for repayment

   2. the state of a bill, note, etc, when due

Other Word Forms

• nonmaturity noun
• overmaturity noun
• semimaturity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of maturity¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English maturite, from Middle French maturite or directly from Latin mātūritāt-, stem of mātūritās “ripeness, full development”; mature, -ity

Example Sentences

Perhaps the strangest sculptures in the show are a selection of flowing beards, symbol of maturity and wisdom, which derive from the long, lavish one the great Romanian sculptor Constantin Brancusi sported.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

By comparison, the spread on corporate bonds with comparable credit quality and maturities is much narrower—4.16% median, and 4.54% high—indicating a more efficient market with fewer opportunities for bargains.

Read more on Barron's

Still, the most that investors can get is regular interest payments, plus their principal back at maturity.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Stakes in private funds trade before maturity too, usually at prices below manager estimates.

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He also said the 10-year “term premium,” or additional compensation demanded by investors to hold the long-dated maturity, is basically unchanged.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• ability 
• capability 
• experience 
• manhood 
• maturation 
• sophistication 
• wisdom 
• womanhood 

When To Use

What does maturity mean?

Maturity is the state of having reached a stage of full or advanced development.Maturity is a noun form of mature, which is commonly used as an adjective generally meaning fully developed (as a verb, mature generally means to fully develop). If a person shows or has maturity, they are mature, meaning they act grown-up. When an animal has reached maturity, it has reached adulthood. When a fruit has reached maturity, it’s ripe.Maturity is also used in the context of finance to refer to the state of something being due for repayment, such as a bond.Example: Some of my students show maturity, but the rest of them act like preschoolers.