What does teen mean?
Teen is the standard term for a person aged thirteen through nineteen, covering the final years of childhood and most of adolescence. It can be used as a noun, as in “a teenager,” and attributively as an adjective, as in “teen culture” or “teen pregnancy”; before a noun, it is usually open rather than hyphenated. The expression “in the teens” refers to the period from age thirteen to nineteen and, more generally, to a time in which someone is a teenager. The word is neutral and familiar rather than formal or technical, and it is common in both British and American English. “The teens” can also refer collectively to teenagers, especially when discussing their habits, tastes, or social life. Because it names a clearly bounded stage of life, “teen” is more specific than the broader “youth” or “young person.” It remains useful for discussing education, family life, media, consumer behavior, and the physical and emotional changes associated with adolescence. The form also reflects a distinctive English numbering system: “teen” labels the ages after twelve and before twenty, while “-ty” labels multiples of ten.
A person aged between thirteen and nineteen inclusive.
"The exhibition was designed with input from local teens."
The plural “teens” can refer collectively to teenagers or denote the thirteen-to-nineteen age range, especially in the expression “in the teens.”
Denoting or relating to a person aged thirteen through nineteen, or to this stage of life.
"Teen employment remains an important issue in the region."
This use is chiefly attributive and normally appears before a noun, as in “teen employment,” “teen culture,” or “teen health.”
The plural can refer collectively to teenagers or to the thirteen-to-nineteen age range, as in “in the teens.”
"The magazine is especially popular with teenagers."
Teen gave the in-between ages their own ending: thirteen through nineteen.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
Related word forms
How teen is actually used
The noun is neutral and standard in both British and American English. The adjective is chiefly attributive and is normally written without a hyphen before a noun, as in “teen culture.” “In the teens” refers to the period from age thirteen to nineteen, while “the teens” can also refer collectively to teenagers.
Easily confused with teen
Despite their similar spelling, teen denotes a person aged thirteen through nineteen, whereas ten denotes the number 10.