Definition

Relating to the period of life when a person is developing from a child into an adult, often marked by emotional and physical changes.

Example

The adolescent behavior of the group was evident during the school trip.

Conversation

I think his behavior is a bit too adolescent for his age.

Yeah, it can be frustrating sometimes.

Do you remember when we were adolescent and did silly things like that?

Absolutely! It's funny to look back at those moments now.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Definition

A young person who is in the stage of development between childhood and adulthood, typically between the ages of 13 and 19.

Example

The adolescent struggled to find their identity during the challenging teenage years.

Conversation

I remember being such an awkward adolescent when I was a teenager.

Same here! It was a challenging time for everyone.

Yeah, I think we all go through that awkward phase as adolescents.

Root Explanation

Adolescent → It is formed from "adolescere" (meaning to grow up or to mature), which is derived from the Latin root "ad-" (meaning to) and "olescere" (meaning to grow). The word "adolescent" refers to someone who is in the process of growing up or maturing.

Memory Tip

Think of the Latin root "adolescere" which means to grow up — this helps you remember that an adolescent is someone who is growing into adulthood.

Visually Confused Words