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

From puberty and first heartbreak to career pivots and, for some, motherhood, women are thrown into an endless evolution of identity that comes with simply being alive. — Partner Content, Variety, 23 Sep. 2026

The pair eke out a life in a crowded displacement camp, with Ragha navigating puberty without safety, privacy and her mother, while her father faces hard choices to ensure their survival. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 21 Sep. 2026

Theorists are already working out what that puberty-like phase might be like. — Quanta Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026

In this group, fetal exposure was associated with smaller uteruses at puberty and smaller ovaries during adolescence. — Nancy Lapid, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026

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