teen

1 of 2

noun (1)

: a teenage person : teenager
teen adjective

teen

2 of 2

noun (2)

archaic

Examples of teen in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Research shows that 57% of Gen Z teens feel pressured by their parents to attend college, even as alternative education pathways, such as professional certifications and micro-credentials, grow in value. Glenn Llopis, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025 Today, 95% of teens carry smartphones with constant internet access to massive libraries of content. Meg Leta Jones, The Conversation, 27 June 2025 Libraries are where parents bring toddlers for early literacy programs, where teens find safety and support after school, where older adults combat isolation, and where immigrants prepare for citizenship. Linda Johnson, New York Daily News, 27 June 2025 Parents — and even some teens themselves — are growing increasingly concerned about the effects of social media use on young people. Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for teen

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English tene, from Old English tēona injury, grief; akin to Old Norse tjōn loss, damage

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1818, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of teen was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Teen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/teen. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

teen

noun
ˈtēn
teen adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on teen

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