prepubescent

American  

[pree-pyoo-bes-uhnt] / ˌpri pyuˈbɛs ənt /

adjective

1. of or relating to the years immediately preceding puberty, prepubertal.

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noun

1. a prepubescent boy or girl.

prepubescent British  

/ ˌpriːpjuːˈbɛsənt /

noun

1. a person who has not yet reached puberty

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adjective

1. not yet having reached puberty

Other Word Forms

• prepubescence
  noun

Etymology

Origin of prepubescent

First recorded in 1900–05; pre- + pubescent

Example Sentences

Optimal bone health starts in utero, but our prepubescent years are key to setting our skeleton up for later life.

From Salon • May 1, 2024

Who could have figured the largest following was for a prepubescent Korean American who was first identified as a prodigy in a YouTube video at age 7.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2023

For prepubescent children, “there is parental support, but no testing, no treatment, not anything,” officials said in a written statement.

From Seattle Times • May 12, 2023

Since prepubescent girls grow faster than boys, they have a competitive advantage early on.

From New York Times • May 29, 2022

In Phnom Penh, Khouy and Meng were already adults, Keav was a teenage girl, Kim a prepubescent, and Geak a baby.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung