preadult

American

[pree-uh-duhlt, pree-ad-uhlt] / ˌpri əˈdʌlt, priˈæd ʌlt /

adjective

of or relating to the period prior to adulthood.

preadult strivings for independence.

Other Word Forms

preadulthood noun

Etymology

Origin of preadult

First recorded in 1900–05; pre- + adult

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When those have involved a hearing character and a deaf one, the results have been far pithier than is normal for preadult dramas, cutting to the heart of what communication is and how much we can learn about another person without words.

From New York Times

Barely a week passes without a flash bulletin blinding us with news of another prominent preadult who is in the family way or showing off her underthings.

From Time Magazine Archive

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023