adolescent Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a juvenile between the onset of puberty and maturity
    teen; teenager; stripling.
  2. adjective relating to or peculiar to or suggestive of an adolescent
    • adolescent problems
  3. adjective satellite being of the age 13 through 19
    teen; teenage; teenaged.
    • teenage mothers
    • the teen years
  4. adjective satellite displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity
    juvenile; puerile; jejune.
    • adolescent insecurity
    • jejune responses to our problems
    • their behavior was juvenile
    • puerile jokes
  5. adjective satellite in the state of development between puberty and maturity
    • adolescent boys and girls

WordNet

Ad`o*les"cent adjective
Etymology
L. adolescens, p. pr. of adolescere to grow up to; ad + the inchoative olescere to grow: cf. F. adolescent. See Adult.
Definitions
  1. Growing; advancing from childhood to maturity.
    Schools, unless discipline were doubly strong, Detain their adolescent charge too long. Cowper.
Ad`o*les"cent noun
Definitions
  1. A youth.

Webster 1913