puberty

American  

[pyoo-ber-tee] / ˈpyu bər ti /

noun

1. the period or age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction of offspring: in common law, presumed to be 14 years in the male and 12 years in the female.

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puberty British  

/ ˈpjuːbətɪ /

noun

1. Also called: pubescence.  the period at the beginning of adolescence when the sex glands become functional and the secondary sexual characteristics emerge

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puberty Scientific  

/ pyo̅o̅′bər-tē /

1. The stage in the development of humans and other primates marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics, including menarche in females. In humans, puberty occurs at the onset of adolescence, between the ages of about 11 and 14 in girls and 13 and 16 in boys.

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Other Word Forms

• postpuberty adjective
• pubertal adjective

Etymology

Origin of puberty

1350–1400; Middle English puberte < Latin pūbertās adulthood, equivalent to pūber- , stem of pūbēs grown-up + -tās -ty ²

Explanation

Puberty is a time of life when your sex organs start working like an adult's. During puberty, girls and boys start to become women and men. One of the most difficult yet exciting times in life has to be puberty: it's an awkward period between childhood and adulthood when your body rapidly changes. You go through a growth spurt, hair sprouts in new places. Your sex organs start to work for the first time. Hormones are coursing through your veins. Your voice may change. So when you think of puberty, think "awkward stage."

Example Sentences

She visited doctors when her period had not started in puberty and after tests, they found much of her reproductive system was missing.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

The age range served by the Radical Monarchs is a critical time for girls, as puberty and the transition to middle school can be challenging.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026

Scientists still have unanswered questions about whether melatonin could influence puberty, immune function, metabolism, or neurological development when used over extended periods.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2026

The first original movies Pixar made under Docter included “Luca,” about a shy Italian boy who’s secretly a sea creature, and “Turning Red,” about a Chinese-Canadian girl who transforms into a giant panda during puberty.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 7, 2026

Because I was only ten and hadn’t hit puberty, I didn’t have to wear my hijab yet.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad

Related Words

• adolescence