1
: fully developed and mature : grown-up
an adult lion
2
: of, relating to, intended for, or befitting adults
an adult approach to a problem
3
: dealing in or with explicitly sexual material
adult bookstores
adult movies
adult·ness
ə-ˈdəlt-nəs 
ˈa-ˌdəlt-
ˈa-ˌdəlt-
plural -es
: the quality or state of being adult
especially
: intellectual maturity usually associated with an adult
an adultness in the quality of his dialogue —
R. A. Cordell
R. A. Cordell Examples of adult in a Sentence
Adjective
preparing children for adult life
We need to approach this in an adult way.
Recent Examples on the Web
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 June 2026
It is estimated that, based on measures of blood glucose, lipids, and other parameters, less than 12% of the adult American population can even be said to metabolically healthy.
—Christopher Duggan, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
For many readers and critics, the perception was that Mansfield was almost writing children’s fiction, since most of her stories are deceptively easy to read, although her themes are entirely adult in both form and content.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
Justin Vernon’s midwestern charm and pliable falsetto has always endeared him to indie-rock dads raised on Michael McDonald, but starting a family himself between Bon Iver projects turned this year’s Sable, Fable into a deep examination of the fatherly adult contemporary figure in popular music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adult
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Adjective
Males dusky sharks can grow up to 14 feet, which is about the size of a sub-adult white shark, according to Chapman.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 June 2026
It is estimated that, based on measures of blood glucose, lipids, and other parameters, less than 12% of the adult American population can even be said to metabolically healthy.
—Christopher Duggan, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
For many readers and critics, the perception was that Mansfield was almost writing children’s fiction, since most of her stories are deceptively easy to read, although her themes are entirely adult in both form and content.
—Literary Hub, 17 Dec. 2025
Justin Vernon’s midwestern charm and pliable falsetto has always endeared him to indie-rock dads raised on Michael McDonald, but starting a family himself between Bon Iver projects turned this year’s Sable, Fable into a deep examination of the fatherly adult contemporary figure in popular music.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for adult
Cite this Entry
“Adult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adult. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: fully developed and mature
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of adults
Etymology
Adjective
from Latin adultus "having grown up," from adolescere "to grow up" — related to adolescence
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