adolescence

noun

ad·​o·​les·​cence ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊn(t)s 

1

: the period of life when a child develops into an adult : the period from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority (see majority sense 2a)

He struggled through his adolescence.

2

: the state or process of growing up

3

: a stage of development (as of a language or culture) prior to maturity

Synonyms

• minority
• nonage

Examples of adolescence in a Sentence

Their children are on the verge of adolescence.

He struggled through his adolescence.

Recent Examples on the Web

The film is set in the ’70s — at least, that’s how the cars and costumes check out — but perhaps only to reflect the director’s own adolescence. —Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025

Guimarães and Lancaster give themselves fearlessly over to a story that is extreme but in a way that is true to the extremity of adolescence. —Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025

When the girl hit the turbulent wall of adolescence, she was forced to leave. —Teri Sforza, Orange County Register, 9 Feb. 2025

The first is a touching drama, adapted by Keith Bunin from Ali Benjamin’s 2015 novel of the same name, about a lonely seventh-grader named Suzy who is grieving the death of her onetime best friend and trying to navigate her way through adolescence and her one-of-a-kind brilliant mind. —Chad Jones, The Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Middle French & Latin; Middle French, borrowed from Latin adolēscentia, adulēscentia, noun derivative of adolēscent-, adolēscens adolescent entry 2

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

adolescence

noun

ad·​o·​les·​cence ˌad-ᵊl-ˈes-ᵊn(t)s 

: the state or process of growing up

also : the period of life from puberty to maturity

adolescent

-ᵊnt

adjective or noun

Etymology

Middle English adolescence "adolescence," from early French adolescence (same meaning), from Latin adolescentia (same meaning), from adolescere "to grow up" — related to adult

Medical Definition

adolescence

noun

ad·​o·​les·​cence ˌad-ᵊl-ˈes-ᵊn(t)s 

1

: the state or process of growing up

2

: the period of life from puberty to maturity terminating legally at the age of majority