adolescence
noun
ad·o·les·cence
ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊn(t)s 
1
: the period of life when a child develops into an adult : the period from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority (see majority sense 2a)
He struggled through his adolescence.
2
: the state or process of growing up
3
: a stage of development (as of a language or culture) prior to maturity
Examples of adolescence in a Sentence
Their children are on the verge of adolescence.
He struggled through his adolescence.
Recent Examples on the Web
His public defender, Amy Smith, during his sentencing detailed a childhood and adolescence fraught with abuse and poverty.
—
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 June 2025
During his adolescence, the sensibility among the youth was to turn away from the gentility of the race man and toward the existential and the militant.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
My father, my brother, my cousins, my uncles, executed, all Romanovs’ blood splashed on my adolescence.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2025
The kids who were exposed to higher levels of PFAS chemicals in utero were more likely to have higher blood pressure in childhood and adolescence, the research found.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescence
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 14 June 2025
During his adolescence, the sensibility among the youth was to turn away from the gentility of the race man and toward the existential and the militant.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 14 June 2025
My father, my brother, my cousins, my uncles, executed, all Romanovs’ blood splashed on my adolescence.
—Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 June 2025
The kids who were exposed to higher levels of PFAS chemicals in utero were more likely to have higher blood pressure in childhood and adolescence, the research found.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescence
Cite this Entry
“Adolescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adolescence. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
adolescence
noun
ad·o·les·cence
ˌad-ᵊl-ˈes-ᵊn(t)s
: the state or process of growing up
also
: the period of life from puberty to maturity
adolescent
adjective or noun
-ᵊnt
Etymology
Middle English adolescence "adolescence," from early French adolescence (same meaning), from Latin adolescentia (same meaning), from adolescere "to grow up" — related to adult
Medical Definition
adolescence
noun
ad·o·les·cence
ˌad-ᵊl-ˈes-ᵊn(t)s
1
: the state or process of growing up
2
: the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share