prepubescent

adjective

pre·​pu·​bes·​cent ˌprē-pyü-ˈbe-sᵊnt 

: of, relating to, being in, or occurring in the period of development immediately preceding puberty

prepubescent children

prepubescent growth

prepubescent noun

Examples of prepubescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

He is accused of possessing more than 600 images of child pornography, which included 10 or more images involving a prepubescent minor younger than 12, according to the criminal complaint. —City News Service, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026

According to data collected mostly before the recent surge in pediatric-dysphoria diagnoses, most prepubescent children who experienced gender distress went on to experience same-sex attraction and ultimately did not pursue a gender transition. —Ben Appel, The Atlantic, 3 Mar. 2026

In the early 2020s the field was dominated by young, predominantly Russian teenagers who could land quads, a feat that is easier in narrower, prepubescent bodies. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 9 Feb. 2026

The scene in San Francisco harkens to the days when a prepubescent girl leaped around the Oakland Ice Center as if nothing bothered her. —Elliott Almond, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

pre- + pubescent

First Known Use

1904, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for prepubescent

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

Medical Definition

prepubescent

1 of 2 adjective

pre·​pu·​bes·​cent -ᵊnt 

: of, relating to, being in, or occurring in the period of development immediately preceding puberty

prepubescent children

prepubescent growth

prepubescent

2 of 2 noun

: a prepubescent child