maturity

American  

[muh-choor-i-tee, -toor-, -tyoor-, -chur-] / məˈtʃʊər ɪ ti, -ˈtʊər-, -ˈtyʊər-, -ˈtʃɜr- /

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.

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maturity British  

/ -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

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Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

• nonmaturity
  noun
• overmaturity
  noun
• semimaturity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of maturity

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

Explanation

When something reaches its full level of development, it has achieved maturity. Easy enough when you're a perfectly ripe peach. Maturity in humans is not so easy to accomplish or achieve. Some people might be physically mature, which is to say that they are fully physically grown, but don't yet exhibit signs of emotional maturity — such as a willingness to accept responsibility, or maintain poise in serious situations — for a long time afterward.

Example Sentences

Fletcher's performance when he did come on at half-time was full of maturity.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

The fund that originates the loan holds it to maturity.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

The longer the maturity of the bond, though, the longer a buyer is locked into its fixed yield.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Private credit loans’ average maturity is around five years, and since last Sept. 30 the 5-year Treasury yield has risen to its current 4.27% from 3.74%.

From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026

Now it seemed that what she had thought was maturity, serenity and compassion was only the tranquillity that follows a joyful stimulation.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

Related Words

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