pubescent

adjective

pu·​bes·​cent pyü-ˈbe-sᵊnt 

1

a

: arriving at or having reached puberty

b

: of or relating to puberty

2

: covered with fine soft short hairs compare villous

Examples of pubescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Burrall was one of the actors who portrayed the Thriller singer, showcasing his pre-pubescent years. — Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Its pubescent, smiling lips hang below his chin and crop his neck, but a lace collar holds his ensemble together. — Literary Hub, 26 Jan. 2026

Chad Bianco couldn’t answer a few simple questions from me without becoming angry and yelling out of frustration, demonstrating all of the restraint of a pubescent boy. — Rafael Perez, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026

Hulu’s The Testaments, an adaptation of the sequel, spends its first season among privileged pubescent girls training to be Wives to powerful men. — Judy Berman, Time, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin pūbēscent-, pūbēscens, present participle of pūbēscere "to reach physical maturity, grow hair on the body, (of fruit) become mature, ripen," inchoative verbal derivative of pūbēs "adult population, group of able-bodied men, age of puberty, pubic region, pubic hair"; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin — more at pubes

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for pubescent

• depressant
• fluorescent
• incessant
• putrescent
• quiescent
• senescent
• suppressant
• acquiescent
• adolescent
• arborescent
• coalescent
• convalescent

Medical Definition

pubescent

adjective

pu·​bes·​cent -ᵊnt 

1

: arriving at or having reached puberty

2

: of or relating to puberty