subadult

noun

sub·​adult ˌsəb-ə-ˈdəlt How to pronounce subadult (audio)
ˌsəb-ˈa-ˌdəlt
: an individual that has passed through the juvenile period but not yet attained typical adult characteristics
subadult adjective

Examples of subadult in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Research has shown that subadult males born in areas with dense cougar populations have no choice but to leave home. Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 15 Feb. 2024 The collared wolves were an adult breeding female and a subadult from the Gearhart Mountain Pack. CBS News, 12 Feb. 2024 Part of the issue is that most T. rex specimens are adults, with only a few subadults. Asher Elbein, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2024 It's estimated that there are just 10 to 15 adult and subadult mountain lions, not including kittens, in the Santa Monica Mountains. Li Cohen, CBS News, 26 May 2023 She’s considered a subadult, the teenagers of the bear world, and is learning to navigate the world without her mother. Jordan Mendoza, USA TODAY, 5 Oct. 2022 Previously, only adult or subadult pink iguanas were found in the area. Saleen Martin, USA TODAY, 22 Dec. 2022 In this species, subadult females are able to mate and produce viable offspring. Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 28 Feb. 2018 The tiny clues documented how fast the dinosaurs grew and outlined their developmental stages through hatchling, yearling, juvenile, subadult and mature animals, offering greater insight into the lives of these reptiles than experts previously knew. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'subadult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of subadult was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near subadult

Cite this Entry

“Subadult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subadult. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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