maturation

noun

mat·​u·​ra·​tion ˌma-chə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the process of becoming mature (see mature entry 1 sense 2)

b

: the emergence of personal and behavioral characteristics through growth processes

c

: the final stages of differentiation (see differentiation sense 3b) of cells, tissues, or organs

2

a

: the entire process by which diploid gamete-producing cells are transformed into haploid gametes that includes both meiosis and physiological (see physiological sense 2) and structural changes

b

: spermiogenesis

maturational

ˌma-chə-ˈrā-sh(ə-)nəl 

adjective

Synonyms

• development
• growth
• maturing
• ripening

Examples of maturation in a Sentence

the early stages of maturation

the maturation of his skills

Recent Examples on the Web

Regarding the 2024 bourbon, master of maturation Andrea Wilson provided some tasting notes to tantalize your palate. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024

Jim enables Huck’s moral maturation; without him, Twain’s Roman has no Bildung. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 26 Mar. 2024

Eldest daughters developed early and had ample maturation that ultimately helped with child-rearing. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 13 Mar. 2024

Experts note that while adolescent girls work to relate to their changing, unfamiliar bodies, the rest of the world often sees physical maturation as a green light to treat a child like an adult woman. —Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024

The responses in social posts and direct messages to WIRED underscore how the tech industry is undergoing a cultural change—and a maturation. —Lauren Goode, WIRED, 4 Mar. 2024

Thus, despite concerns, the evolving structure of bitcoin's transaction fee market reflects a maturation of the world's largest blockchain. —Liam Wright, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

The rum was then placed back into those barrels for a secondary maturation period. —Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024

Gauff and her inner circle describe a period of maturation and constant adjustment. —Abby Aguirre, Vogue, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1541, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

maturation

noun

mat·​u·​ra·​tion ˌmach-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

: the process of becoming mature

2

: the process involving meiosis by which body cells having two sets of chromosomes form gametes with one set of chromosomes

Medical Definition

maturation

noun

mat·​u·​ra·​tion ˌmach-ə-ˈrā-shən 

1

a

: the process of becoming mature

b

: the emergence of personal and behavioral characteristics through growth processes

c

: the final stages of differentiation of cells, tissues, or organs

d

: the achievement of intellectual or emotional maturity

2

a

: the entire process by which diploid gamete-producing cells are transformed into haploid gametes that includes both meiosis and physiological and structural changes fitting the gamete for its future role

b

: spermiogenesis sense 2

maturative

mə-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət-iv 

adjective