teen
teen
Teen (noun) means a person aged between thirteen and nineteen; short for teenager. Example: “The library runs a book club just for teens on Thursday evenings.”
noun
1
A person aged between thirteen and nineteen; short for teenager.
"The library runs a book club just for teens on Thursday evenings."
"As a teen, he spent every weekend practising the guitar in his room."
"Most teens spend hours on their phones every day."
"In the safety alert, the NTSB educates parents on the risks and outlines what they can do to protect their teens against marijuana-impaired driving."
adj
1
Relating to teenagers.
"She loved reading teen magazines when she was younger."
"The film deals with common teen worries such as exams and friendships."
"The show is aimed at a teen audience."
How to use teen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA shorter, more casual word for teenager, or an adjective meaning "aimed at teenagers".
Common pairings
teen years
teen drama
teen audience
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Word forms
- Plural
- teens
- Third person singular
- teens
- Past tense
- teened
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The library runs a book club just for _____ on Thursday evenings.
Etymology
A clipping of "teenager".
Synonyms
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Rhymes for teen
See all rhymes for 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.
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