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.
The Sisters Grimm, based on a bestselling series of young adult novels of the same name written by Michael Buckley, premieres on Apple TV+ on October 3, 2025. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Oct. 2025 Based on Lois Lowry's seminal young adult novel, The Giver crafts a world where emotion has been eliminated and all babies are genetically engineered. Janey Tracey, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025 The Amazon streamer made a host of announcements around young adult films and TV shows today at an event in Ibiza, with Culpa Tuya star Nicole Wallace and its writer Mercedes Ron among those in the spotlight. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025 Four generations now share the space — Ross’ toddler, her young adult daughter, her mother in her 70s, Ross, and Pops. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 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

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Cite this Entry

“Young adult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/young%20adult. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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