noun
Uncommon
adolescent
ad-uh-LEHS-uhnt
Adolescent (noun) means a young person who is no longer a child but not yet fully an adult, typically a teenager. Example: “The clinic offers counselling designed specifically for adolescents.”
noun
1
A young person who is no longer a child but not yet fully an adult, typically a teenager.
"The clinic offers counselling designed specifically for adolescents."
"As an adolescent, she was painfully shy."
"Every adolescent needs sleep, but many stay up far too late."
adj
1
Relating to the teenage years, or behaving in an immature, teenager-like way.
"The show captures adolescent awkwardness perfectly."
"His adolescent humour never really went away."
"Her adolescent moods swung from joy to gloom within an hour."
How to use adolescent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA teenager, or something typical of that age.
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Word forms
- Plural
- adolescents
- Comparative
- more adolescent
- Superlative
- most adolescent
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The clinic offers counselling designed specifically for _____.
Etymology
From Latin adolescens, the present participle of adolescere ("to grow up"), from ad- ("toward") + alescere ("to be nourished, grow").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for adolescent
See all rhymes for adolescent →Frequently asked questions
What does “adolescent” mean?
The word “adolescent” means a young person who is no longer a child but not yet fully an adult, typically a teenager. In plain terms, a teenager, or something typical of that age.
How do you pronounce “adolescent”?
“Adolescent” is pronounced ad-uh-LEHS-uhnt (/ˌæd.əˈlɛs.ənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “adolescent” in a sentence?
Here is “adolescent” used in a sentence: “The clinic offers counselling designed specifically for adolescents.”
What part of speech is “adolescent”?
Depending on how it is used, “adolescent” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “adolescent” come from?
The word “adolescent” comes from Latin. From Latin adolescens, the present participle of adolescere ("to grow up"), from ad- ("toward") + alescere ("to be nourished, grow").
Is “adolescent” a common word?
“Adolescent” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “adolescent” have?
“Adolescent” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young person who is no longer a child but not yet fully an adult, typically a teenager.
What is the difference between "adolescent" and "teenager"?
"Teenager" strictly refers to someone aged 13 to 19, while "adolescent" is a slightly broader term for a young person who is no longer a child but not yet fully an adult, and can be used a little more flexibly around those years.
Can "adolescent" describe behavior rather than just age?
Yes, as an adjective, "adolescent" can describe behaving in an immature, teenager-like way, even when the description isn't strictly about someone's age, as in "an adolescent attitude."
Where does adolescence fit between childhood and adulthood?
Adolescence is the transitional stage in which a person is no longer considered a child but has not yet fully reached adulthood, making "adolescent" the term for someone in that in-between period.
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