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

Example Sentences

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

Jackson’s faith was rewarded with the arrival, also in 1970, of “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” about a sixth-grade girl who navigates puberty through daily conversations with the divine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

As athletes progress through the sport, growth spurts or puberty can interrupt athletic progress, especially during jumps.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

In her review of gender services in Northern Ireland, Baroness Cass said that Northern Ireland was set to be a research site within the puberty blocker trial.

From BBC • Feb. 10, 2026

“Having gone through puberty, adults are very unlikely to see Holy Beings,” Darkness said.

From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young

Related Words

• adolescence