puberty

noun

pu·​ber·​ty ˈpyü-bər-tē 

1

: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the reproductive organs (such as the testes and ovaries), development of secondary sex characteristics (such as male facial hair growth and female breast development), and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female

2

: the age at which puberty occurs often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls

Examples of puberty in a Sentence

He reached puberty later than most of his classmates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Set in 1970, the film follows the titular Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson), an 11-year-old navigating the anxieties of puberty on top of family struggles. —Kevin Jacobsen, EW.com, 10 May 2025

This year, Republicans filed bills to ban transgender girls from girls' school sports, restrict puberty blockers for minors and prevent the state health plan from covering gender-affirming care. —Sam Gringlas, NPR, 10 May 2025

The more than 400-page document details alleged harms from medical interventions for youth, including the use of puberty blockers, and alleged risks, such as infertility. —Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 2 May 2025

When a person is past the start of puberty, care may include hormones. —Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English puberte, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French puberté, borrowed from Latin pūbertāt-, pūbertās "age of physical maturity, physical signs of puberty," from pūber-, pūbēs "physically mature, adult" (derivative from the base of pūbēs, genitive pūbis "adult population, age of puberty, pubic region, pubic hair") + -tāt-, -tās -ty — more at pubes

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

puberty

noun

pu·​ber·​ty pyü-bərt-ē 

1

: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the sex organs (as the testes and ovaries) and is marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics (as male facial hair growth and female breast development) and by the occurrence of the first menstruation in the female

2

: the age at which puberty occurs often defined legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls

Medical Definition

puberty

noun

pu·​ber·​ty ˈpyü-bərt-ē 

plural puberties

1

: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually marked by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics, and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female

2

: the age at which puberty occurs being typically between 13 and 16 years in boys and 11 and 14 in girls and often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls