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

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

From Washington Post

In preadolescent children, Fortuna says, depression may reveal itself as touchiness and irritability rather than sadness.

From New York Times

“On Sugarland,” in previews at New York Theater Workshop, follows a preadolescent Sadie as she comes to terms with her mother’s death in combat.

From New York Times

I strongly object to Ruth Whippman’s assertion that “there is a bizarre absence of fully realized human beings” in the fictional worlds of male toddlers and preadolescent boys.

From New York Times

In fact, certain people, including some women and most preadolescent children, add little obvious muscle mass, no matter how long they lift.

From New York Times