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
The acclaimed series’ final season, released in late 2025, gave Schnapp the platform to deliver a compelling portrayal of coming out in the 1980s as a young adult.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
The pod includes an adult female and what are believed to be her two offspring, including a large young adult male.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
In March, a man’s mandible was found, followed a few days later by the finger bone of a young girl and the ribs of a young adult.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Green is known for his young adult fiction books, including Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down, among others.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for young adult
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Pete Hammond, Deadline, 7 Apr. 2026
The pod includes an adult female and what are believed to be her two offspring, including a large young adult male.
—CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
In March, a man’s mandible was found, followed a few days later by the finger bone of a young girl and the ribs of a young adult.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
Green is known for his young adult fiction books, including Looking For Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down, among others.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
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 11 Apr. 2026.
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