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
Examples of adolescence in a Sentence
Their children are on the verge of adolescence.
He struggled through his adolescence.
Recent Examples on the Web
In the study, 32 male mice six to 21 weeks of age – the equivalent of adolescence to early adulthood in humans – were split into two groups.
—
Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 3 June 2025
He was inspired by the rock music of his adolescence: Kiss, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and UFO.
—Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
And the Nurses Health Study II revealed that for each serving of a sugary beverage — such as soft drinks or sports drinks — consumed daily in adolescence, participants had a 32 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
The war may have been very ugly, but Amrum is a beautiful place to grow up, seemingly a million miles away as life goes on, the future unsure, its inhabitants searching for some sort of happiness, and Nanning on the cusp of adolescence.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescence
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 3 June 2025
He was inspired by the rock music of his adolescence: Kiss, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin and UFO.
—Steve Appleford, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
And the Nurses Health Study II revealed that for each serving of a sugary beverage — such as soft drinks or sports drinks — consumed daily in adolescence, participants had a 32 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer before age 50.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 May 2025
The war may have been very ugly, but Amrum is a beautiful place to grow up, seemingly a million miles away as life goes on, the future unsure, its inhabitants searching for some sort of happiness, and Nanning on the cusp of adolescence.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescence
Cite this Entry
“Adolescence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adolescence. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
adjective or noun
-ᵊnt
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share