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

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

Created by Seth MacFarlane, who voices the family’s patriarch and Roger the alien, the show has gained popularity partly for its musical numbers performed by the Smith family’s pubescent son and Roger. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 21 Feb. 2026

The pubescent dumbass spirit is baked into PILF’s art. —Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 18 Feb. 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