ADOLESCENCE Definition & Meaning

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adolescence

[ ad-l-es-uhns ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

the transitional period between puberty and adulthood in human development, extending mainly over the teen years and terminating legally when the age of majority is reached; youth.
the process or state of growing to maturity.
a period or stage of development, as of a society, preceding maturity.

adolescence

/ ˌæ��əˈ��ɛ��ə�Բ� /

noun

the period in human development that occurs between the beginning of puberty and adulthood

adolescence

/ ă��′l-ĕ��′ə�Բ� /

The period of physical and psychological development from puberty to the onset of adulthood.

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of adolescence¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ��Ǳ�ŧ��Գپ��, from ��Ǳ�ŧ��Գ�-, stem of ��Ǳ�ŧ��ŧ�Բ� “growing up” ( adolescent ) + -ia -ia ( def )

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of adolescence¹

C15: via Old French from Latin ��Ǳ�ŧ��Գپ��, from ��Ǳ�ŧ�� to grow up, from ��ŧ�� to grow, from ��ŧ�� to feed, nourish

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Example Sentences

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Theirs is a post-Oprah self-help Christianity, with podcast episodes about dating, mental health, addiction and the struggles of adolescence.

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But it's a particularly delicate experience for queer people, who often spend a fair share of their childhood and adolescence conforming to the rigid norms of their surroundings.

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As she enters her late 20s, the musician says having some hindsight on her adolescence is what allowed her to break through these barriers.

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Facing a felony charge and jail time, he spent the majority of his adolescence in trouble with the law for vandalism.

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Guimarães and Lancaster give themselves fearlessly over to a story that is extreme but in a way that is true to the extremity of adolescence.

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