preadolescent

American  

[pree-ad-l-es-uhnt] / ˌpri æd lˈɛs ənt /

adjective

1. of or relating to preadolescence or a preadolescent.

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noun

1. a person who is in the preadolescent years.

preadolescent British  

/ ˌpriːædəˈlɛsənt /

noun

1. a person who has not yet reached adolescence

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adjective

1. of or relating to the period before adolescence

Etymology

Origin of preadolescent

First recorded in 1905–10; pre- + adolescent

Example Sentences

Early in the movie, the character is played by Alyla Browne as preadolescent Furiosa.

From Seattle Times • May 20, 2024

In their forgiveness journals, one preadolescent from Northern Ireland wrote: “We need to learn this to be friends.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 27, 2023

Using data collected from a study of 285 guide dogs, the researchers found that preadolescent and postadolescent dogs seem to be more “trainable” than teenage pooches.

From Science Magazine • May 12, 2020

We recalled our preadolescent battery at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, my imaginary Tom Seaver tossing fastballs to his imaginary Jerry Grote.

From New York Times • Mar. 8, 2019

All of a sudden, my mixed-up, preadolescent life seems pretty good.

From "The Misfits" by James Howe