puberty

noun

pu·​ber·​ty ˈpyü-bər-tē 

1

: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the reproductive organs (such as the testes and ovaries), development of secondary sex characteristics (such as male facial hair growth and female breast development), and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female

2

: the age at which puberty occurs often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls

Examples of puberty in a Sentence

He reached puberty later than most of his classmates.

Recent Examples on the Web

Although those who had already started on puberty blockers and hormones prior to the law were allowed to continue. —Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 19 Apr. 2024

The two teenagers, who are anonymous in the lawsuit, have taken puberty blockers and hormone treatments — medical interventions outlawed by Idaho’s law, which is called the Vulnerable Child Protection Act. —Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 18 Apr. 2024

By Mallory Moench April 18, 2024 7:23 AM EDT Scotland’s only gender clinic for young people has paused prescribing puberty blockers for new patients under 18 years old after the National Health Service (NHS) in England banned children from receiving the gender treatment last month. —Mallory Moench, TIME, 18 Apr. 2024

The law, known as the Safe Act, prohibits hormone therapy, puberty blockers and gender-reassignment surgery for people under 18 — although a clause allows state residents already on those treatments to continue. —Anumita Kaur, Washington Post, 17 Apr. 2024

The National Health Service England recently cemented a policy first issued on an interim basis almost a year ago that sets a minimum age at which puberty blockers can be started, along with other requirements. —CBS News, 16 Apr. 2024

In recent years, 24 states have passed restrictions on gender-affirming medical care for trans minors, including puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgery. —Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 16 Apr. 2024

Children who are abused earlier in life, typically before puberty—such as Kevin—show greater emotional dysregulation, weaker control over their thoughts and actions, and more rapid biological aging. —Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024

To kick-start puberty and calm the haters, Ritchson threw himself into the gym. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English puberte, from Latin pubertas, from puber pubescent

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

puberty

noun

pu·​ber·​ty pyü-bərt-ē 

1

: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the sex organs (as the testes and ovaries) and is marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics (as male facial hair growth and female breast development) and by the occurrence of the first menstruation in the female

2

: the age at which puberty occurs often defined legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls

Medical Definition

puberty

noun

pu·​ber·​ty ˈpyü-bərt-ē 

plural puberties

1

: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually marked by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics, and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female

2

: the age at which puberty occurs being typically between 13 and 16 years in boys and 11 and 14 in girls and often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls