adolescence

noun

ad·​o·​les·​cence ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊn(t)s How to pronounce adolescence (audio)
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 Born to a grocer and his wife in Beirut in August 1960, Nasrallah spent his early adolescence under the shadow of Lebanon’s civil war. Sana Noor Haq, CNN, 28 Sep. 2024 The emotional semi-autobiographical story follows siblings Violeta and Eva, who live with their mother but travel to New Mexico every summer to spend time with their loving but unpredictable father, navigating the messy, complex relationship from adolescence to adulthood. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 20 Sep. 2024 Early childhood and adolescence are known as sensitive or critical periods when the brain is most capable of learning rapidly and altering its trajectory in both positive and negative ways. Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2024 That trauma brought on Jones' speech difficulties, and only the intervention of a caring teacher during the boy's adolescence coaxed Jones out of his shell, Jones later said. Ew Staff, EW.com, 9 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for adolescence 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'adolescence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin adolēscentia, adulēscentia, noun derivative of adolēscent-, adolēscens adolescent entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of adolescence was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near adolescence

Cite this Entry

“Adolescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adolescence. Accessed 10 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

adolescence

noun
ad·​o·​les·​cence ˌad-ᵊl-ˈes-ᵊn(t)s How to pronounce adolescence (audio)
: the state or process of growing up
also : the period of life from puberty to maturity
adolescent
-ᵊnt
adjective or noun
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 How to pronounce adolescence (audio)
1
: the state or process of growing up
2
: the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority

More from Merriam-Webster on adolescence

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