What does adolescence mean?
Adolescence is the noun denoting the transitional period of human development between childhood and adulthood, generally corresponding to the teenage years. During this stage, individuals experience rapid physical growth, hormonal change, cognitive maturation, and the gradual formation of an independent identity. The word derives from the Latin adolescere, meaning "to grow up," and entered English via French in the medieval period. In modern usage it appears most often in educational, medical, and psychological contexts — phrases such as "early adolescence" and "the onset of adolescence" are standard — and it is neutral in tone, carrying neither praise nor blame. Beyond its literal sense, adolescence is also used figuratively to describe the early, formative stage of anything not yet fully mature, such as an art form or industry. Its adjective form, "adolescent," describes both people in this stage and things characteristic of it. Because it names a universal human experience, adolescence remains one of the most widely used terms in discussions of development and society.
The period of human growth and development between childhood and adulthood, typically encompassing the teenage years.
"She spent much of her adolescence moving between countries with her family."
Often used with modifiers such as "early," "middle," or "late" to denote specific phases within the period.
By extension, an early or formative stage in the development of something that has not yet reached maturity.
"Television journalism was still in its adolescence in the 1950s."
Rarely used in the plural; the singular is standard even when referring to multiple people, since each person's adolescence is discussed individually.
"The study compared the adolescences of twins raised apart."
The word "adolescence" comes from a Latin verb meaning simply "to grow up" — proof that growing pains have been on humanity's mind since ancient Rome.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of adolescence
Adolescence comes from the Latin verb adolescere, meaning "to grow up" or "to grow to maturity," formed from the prefix ad- ("toward") and alescere ("to grow or be nourished"), which itself derives from the root alere, "to nourish." The same Latin root ultimately gives English words such as "adult" (from adultus, "grown") and "aliment." The term passed into Middle French as adolescence before entering English, where it has been in use since at least the late Middle Ages.
Related word forms
How adolescence is actually used
The word is neutral to slightly formal in register and common in psychology, education, and medicine. It carries no inherent negative connotation, though it frequently appears in discussions of risk-taking, identity formation, and emotional turbulence. The figurative sense (a field or institution's 'adolescence') is well established but less frequent than the literal sense.
Easily confused with adolescence
"Adolescence" is the noun for the developmental period itself, while "adolescent" refers to a person in that period or serves as an adjective describing it.