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prepubescent

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

adjective

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


noun

  1. a prepubescent boy or girl.

prepubescent British  
/ ˌpriːpjuːˈbɛsənt /

noun

  1. a person who has not yet reached puberty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. not yet having reached puberty

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • prepubescence noun

Etymology

Origin of prepubescent

First recorded in 1900–05; pre- + pubescent

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.

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

From Salon

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

Skaug pointed to data showing that, in most cases, gender dysphoria diagnosed in prepubescent children isn’t sustained in adolescence.

From Seattle Times

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

From Seattle Times

The videos depicted explicit sexual acts involving prepubescent boys and adult men.

From Washington Post