adolescent

USad-uh-LES-uhnt/ˌædəˈlɛsənt/

2 meanings of adolescent

1
nouncountable
A person in the stage of adolescence; someone who has reached puberty but has not yet become an adult.
As an adolescent, she spent most of her weekends at the skating rink with friends.
The clinic specializes in treating adolescents who struggle with anxiety.
Similarteenager, teen, youth, juvenile
Oppositeadult
2
adjective
Relating to or at the age of adolescence; at the stage between childhood and adulthood.
Researchers have documented striking changes in the adolescent brain.
He looked back on his adolescent rebellion with a mix of pride and embarrassment.
Similarteenage, juvenile, youthful, pubescent
Oppositeadult

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Origin

First attested around 1440, this word came through Middle English and Middle French from Latin adolescentem, the accusative of adolescens, the present participle of adolēscere ("to become adult, grow up"), formed from ad- ("to") and alēscere ("to grow or become nourished"). The adjective first appeared in 1785.