adolescent
ad-uh-LESS-unt
/ˌædəˈlɛsənt/
A young person who is in the process of developing from a child into an adult; or relating to this stage of growth.
Refers specifically to the transitional phase between childhood and adulthood characterized by rapid physical, psychological, and social changes.
The story behind the word. The word comes directly from the Latin verb 'adolescere', formed from 'ad-' (toward) and 'alere' (to nourish or grow). Historically, it described a person who was actively in the state of growing up toward adulthood.
Word relationships
- teenager: 'Teenager' specifically denotes ages 13-19, whereas 'adolescent' is a broader psychological term describing the stage of maturity.
- youth: 'Youth' is broader and can encompass young adulthood up to the mid-twenties.
- adult: An adult has fully reached biological and legal maturity.
Commonly confused with
- juvenile: 'Juvenile' often carries legal connotations regarding youth under court jurisdiction, while 'adolescent' is developmental.
Word family
- adolescence (noun): The period of life between childhood and adulthood.
Collocations
- adolescent development
- adolescent psychology
- adolescent behavior
- early adolescent
Example sentences
- "The adolescent brain undergoes significant structural remodeling, particularly in regions governing executive control." Psychological growth study
- "The adolescent search for personal identity often manifests in heightened peer group loyalty." Classic developmental text
Memory hook
Think of 'add a lesson'—an adolescent is learning life lessons to become an adult. Add lessons to grow into adulthood.
When not to use
Do not use to describe young children under ten or fully grown adults.
Fun facts
- The concept of adolescence as a distinct stage of human life was largely popularized by psychologist G. Stanley Hall in 1904.
Related words
Explore more words
adolescence, transition, precocious, maturation, transitory, socialization
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