adolescent

1 of 2

noun

ad·​o·​les·​cent ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊnt 

: a young person who is developing into an adult : one who is in the state of adolescence

adolescent

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or being in adolescence

adolescent growth

adolescent boys and girls

2

: emotionally or intellectually immature

did not appreciate her husband's adolescent high jinks

adolescently adverb

Synonyms of adolescent

Adjective

• young
• juvenile

Examples of adolescent in a Sentence

Noun

Their children are now adolescents.

Adjective

an adolescent sheepdog, who hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping the sheep huddled together

would hope that the college students had outgrown such adolescent behavior

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The United States Department of Health and Human Services reported that only one in four adults and one in five adolescents meets physical activity guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026

The doctors’ group, Protect Young Fans, warns of the potential health risks posed by highly caffeinated drinks like Monster Energy, particularly to children and adolescents, citing a growing body of scientific research across the medical spectrum. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Adjective

Fornari is vice chair of the division of child & adolescent psychiatry at Northwell Health’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center and professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. — Dr. Victor Fornari, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026

The children included three under the age of 2, a 7-year-old and two adolescent girls, UNICEF said in a statement welcoming the release. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin adolēscent-, adolēscens "young man or woman, youth," noun derivative of adolēscens adolescent entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from French & Latin; French, going back to Middle French, borrowed from Latin adolēscent-, adolēscens, adulēscens "young, youthful," present participle of adolēscere, adulēscere "to become mature, grow up" — more at adult entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing adolescent

• sub-adolescent

Rhymes for adolescent

• acquiescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent
• deliquescent
• effervescent
• evanescent
• incandescent
• iridescent
• luminescent
• obsolescent
• opalescent

Medical Definition

adolescent

1 of 2 noun

ad·​o·​les·​cent -ᵊnt 

: one that is in the state of adolescence

adolescent

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or being in adolescence

adolescently adverb