young adult
adjective
: of, relating to, or being a category of fiction that is primarily intended for adolescent readers
young adult fiction/literature
We live in an era of blockbuster young adult book series: Harry Potter, Twilight, now the Hunger Games.—
Leah Wilson
Leah WilsonEarly in her four-year career as the young adult librarian of the Huckaby Public Library, Veronica Garde observed that most of the staff had a sliding scale of courtesy toward library users, teenagers being given the shortest shrift.—A. J. Anderson
—abbreviation YA
A. J. AndersonExamples of young adult in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
While global life expectancy is up, youth and young adult mortality rates increased between 2011 and 2023, according to the report.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Christy Roscoe home-schooled their two now-adult sons and then their two now-young adult daughters, adopted from Liberia.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Rowling, whose best-selling young adult series and accompanying movie franchise sparked a pop culture phenomenon in the 2000s, has drawn backlash in recent years for her outspoken views against the transgender community.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
In addition to The Inheritance Games series, Barnes is the author of more than 20 young adult novels.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for young adult
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Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Christy Roscoe home-schooled their two now-adult sons and then their two now-young adult daughters, adopted from Liberia.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Rowling, whose best-selling young adult series and accompanying movie franchise sparked a pop culture phenomenon in the 2000s, has drawn backlash in recent years for her outspoken views against the transgender community.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
In addition to The Inheritance Games series, Barnes is the author of more than 20 young adult novels.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for young adult
Cite this Entry
“Young adult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/young%20adult. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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