teen
8 synonyms for teen, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A person aged between thirteen and nineteen; short for teenager.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A person aged between thirteen and nineteen; short for teenager.
“The library runs a book club just for teens on Thursday evenings.”
2. adj
Relating to teenagers.
“She loved reading teen magazines when she was younger.”
How to use teen
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
teen years
teen drama
teen audience
Etymology
A clipping of "teenager".
Full origin of teen →Frequently asked questions
What does “teen” mean?
The word “teen” means a person aged between thirteen and nineteen; short for teenager. In plain terms, a shorter, more casual word for teenager, or an adjective meaning "aimed at teenagers".
How do you pronounce “teen”?
“Teen” is pronounced teen (/tiːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “teen” in a sentence?
Here is “teen” used in a sentence: “Most teens spend hours on their phones every day.”
What part of speech is “teen”?
Depending on how it is used, “teen” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “teen” a common word?
“Teen” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “teen” have?
“Teen” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person aged between thirteen and nineteen; short for teenager.
What is the difference between a teen and a teenager?
There is no difference in meaning; teen is simply the short, more casual form of teenager. Both refer to a person aged between thirteen and nineteen. Teen is often preferred in headlines, marketing, and informal writing because it is shorter.
What is the difference between a teen and a tween?
A teen is a person aged roughly thirteen to nineteen, whose age ends in "-teen." A tween is a child aged around ten to twelve, in between childhood and the teenage years. So a tween has not yet become a teen.
Can teen be used as an adjective?
Yes, teen is used as an adjective meaning relating to teenagers, as in "teen fashion," "teen movies," or "teen magazine." In this use it comes before the noun and describes something aimed at or connected with teenagers.
