prepubescent

American  

[pree-pyoo-bes-uhnt] / ˌpri pjuˈbɛs 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

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Etymology

Origin of prepubescent

First recorded in 1900–05; pre- + pubescent

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prepubescent

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

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

From Seattle Times ● May 21, 2023

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

From New York Times ● May 29, 2022

Similarly, you wouldn’t let a prepubescent boy make a bunch of adult online friends under any other circumstances either.

From Slate ● Mar. 25, 2020

Such public displays of affection can be embarrassing to a prepubescent girl like me who is not accustomed to being in the company of two married people who like each other.

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg

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