pubescent

adjective

pu·​bes·​cent pyü-ˈbe-sᵊnt 

1

a

: arriving at or having reached puberty

b

: of or relating to puberty

2

: covered with fine soft short hairs compare villous

Examples of pubescent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Flaherty emphasized the rituals that precede a pubescent boy’s manhood — hunting, survival skills, and an elaborately detailed tattooing ceremony. —Armond White, National Review, 4 Dec. 2024

Malcolm in the Middle starred Muniz as the titular pubescent genius, whose parents Hal and Lois (Cranston and Jane Kaczmarek) struggle to raise their working class family, including Malcolm’s three trouble-making brothers (Christopher Kennedy Masterson, Justin Berfield and Erik Per Sullivan). —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 30 Nov. 2024

The trailer introduces us to Anxiety, a new, pubescent emotion played by Maya Hawke, who comes bearing news of a bunch of new roommates. —Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2024

Stemming Psychosis Although most pubescent children sail through this normal maturational process, those at risk of becoming derailed by it need help. —Victoria Costello, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2012

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin pūbēscent-, pūbēscens, present participle of pūbēscere "to reach physical maturity, grow hair on the body, (of fruit) become mature, ripen," inchoative verbal derivative of pūbēs "adult population, group of able-bodied men, age of puberty, pubic region, pubic hair"; (sense 2) borrowed from New Latin, going back to Latin — more at pubes

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Medical Definition

pubescent

adjective

pu·​bes·​cent -ᵊnt 

1

: arriving at or having reached puberty

2

: of or relating to puberty