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
Early 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

Examples of young adult in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of young adult was in 1942

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Young adult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/young%20adult. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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