noun
adult
AD-uhlt
noun
1
A person who has reached the age of legal maturity, typically 18 or older.
"Only adults are permitted to sign the lease."
"As an adult, she finally understood her parents' decisions."
adj
1
Fully grown, or intended for grown-ups rather than children.
"The film contains adult themes not suitable for children."
"An adult elephant can weigh several tonnes."
How to Use Adult
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA grown person, or something meant for grown-ups.
Common pairings
young adult
adult content
adult supervision
Word Forms
more adult comparative, adulted past tense, adults plural, adults singular, most adult superlative
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Etymology
From Latin adultus ("grown up"), the past participle of adolescere ("to grow up") — the same root as adolescent.