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

The first lethal attack occurred in 2018 on a young adult male named Errol. —Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026

With young adult themes of heartache and hope in an uncertain world, this is the right moment for this film. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 20 Apr. 2026

The authors represent several genres, including mystery, romance, young adult, children’s picture books, graphic novels and nonfiction. —Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026

Marshall, a Carmel Valley local and Canyon Crest Academy alum, directs the parish choir, young adult choir, children’s choir and youth schola. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for young adult

• catapult
• subadult
• consult
• exult
• insult
• iseult
• occult
• result
• cult