coming-of-age

noun

com·​ing-of-age ˈkə-miŋ-əv-ˈāj How to pronounce coming-of-age (audio)
: the attainment of prominence, respectability, recognition, or maturity

Examples of coming-of-age in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Lina, a young woman facing harsh coming-of-age rituals, forms a forbidden connection with a man. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025 Both a personal coming-of-age story and a snapshot of a transformative era in music and nightlife, the book recounts the elite record producer’s early years, unpacking how his upbringing and family life informed his tastes, ambitions, and eventual path into DJing in ’90s NYC. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025 The third book on the list is Jennifer Niven's YA coming-of-age novel Breathless. Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 1 Oct. 2025 Wolitzer’s debut novel, about a trio of college students each obsessed with a different dead poet, is both a striking coming-of-age story and a compelling portrait of grief. Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for coming-of-age

Word History

First Known Use

1729, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coming-of-age was in 1729

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Cite this Entry

“Coming-of-age.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coming-of-age. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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