young adult
Americannoun
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a teenager (used especially by publishers and librarians).
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a person in the early years of adulthood.
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.
As a teenager and young adult, Jessica tried to learn more about her mom’s case.
From Slate • Apr. 6, 2026
The victim, who is now a young adult, was finally identified and contacted after researchers saw a picture of her school uniform.
From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026
Erin Moriarity started saving and investing in her teens, and was “aggressively chasing FIRE” as a young adult “through very traditional behaviors: working, budgeting, and saving and investing,” she told MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 14, 2026
Later as a young adult, Chen worked as an assistant to an award-winning Hollywood director who not only loved horses but was an avid believer of the Chinese zodiac.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026
Looking for athletic young adult to play teen.
From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle
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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.