pubescent
Americanadjective
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arriving or arrived at puberty.
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Botany, Zoology. covered with down or fine short hair.
adjective
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arriving or having arrived at puberty
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(of certain plants and animals or their parts) covered with a layer of fine short hairs or down
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pubescent
1640–50; < Latin pūbēscent- (stem of pūbēscēns ), present participle of pūbēscere to attain puberty, reach puberty, become hairy or downy. See pubes 1, -escent
Explanation
A pubescent girl or boy is a young person who's just reached the age of puberty, or sexual maturity. Use the adjective pubescent to describe a person who's at the end of childhood growth and is beginning to be fully adult, including being nearly old enough physically to reproduce, or have babies. Pubescent girls and boys are at an in-between stage in their lives, no longer little kids, but not yet grownups. The root of pubescence is the Latin word pubescere, "grow up, ripen, or come to maturity."
Vocabulary lists containing pubescent
Native Speaker
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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.
While Dr. Fauci’s journal included serious reflections on the pandemic, parts read like a cringey entry from a pubescent teen’s high-school drama.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
My face was also dotted with bright, red bites that accompanied my pubescent pimples.
From Salon ● Mar. 21, 2026
A pubescent Usher temporarily lost his voice after recording the first album, pushing him to focus on honing his dance skills and stage presence.
From New York Times ● Feb. 9, 2024
Yes, there’s a long tradition of teasing boys for trying to grow beards beyond their pubescent abilities.
From Slate ● Jan. 31, 2024
His pubescent voice was cracking from the stress.
From "The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates" by Wes Moore
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
