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maturation

mach-uh-RAY-shun /ˌmætʃ.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

nounC1GREMCATTOEFL

academicformal

The biological unfolding of development according to a genetic plan, independent of specific practice or experience.

Refers specifically to biological or psychological growth driven by internal biological clocks rather than external environmental learning.

The story behind the word. berasal dari Latin 'maturus', meaning ripe or ready. In early medicine and philosophy, it described the natural process of fruits reaching full sweetness, before psychologists adopted it in the 20th century to describe genetic readiness.

Word relationships

ripening: Ripening often applies to physical fruit or immediate physical processes, whereas maturation covers broader biological and cognitive development.

arrest: Arrest refers to the halting of developmental progress.

Commonly confused with

growth: Growth usually refers to quantitative increases in size, while maturation refers to qualitative functional readiness.

Word family

mature (adjective): Fully developed physically or mentally.
mature (verb): To develop fully.
immature (adjective): Not fully developed.

Collocations

biological maturation
brain maturation
sexual maturation
maturation process

Example sentences

"Motor skills such as walking depend heavily on neurological maturation rather than explicit instruction." Developmental psychology research

Memory hook

Think of MATURE grapes waiting for full MATURATION on the vine before turning into fine wine. Nature's internal clock bringing life to full ripeness.

When not to use

Do not use to describe simple passage of physical time; it requires systemic biological or psychological ripening.

Fun facts

Arnold Gesell pioneered the maturation theory of child development in the 1920s, arguing that biology drives development more than environmental training.