noun / adjective

adolescent

ad-uh-LES-unt/ˌædəˈlesnt/

A young person, or relating to the stage between childhood and adulthood.

The adolescent carries a backpack and notebook.

Etymology

adLatintoward

+olescLatinto be nourished, grow

+entLatinperforming or undergoing an action

The pieces describe growing toward maturity. The participial ending presents this as an ongoing process, and the Latin description “growing, youthful” became a noun for a young person undergoing that development.

In context

Steubenville Conferences13:16

trapped in an adolescent's body

Dr. Ryan Anderson | When Harry Became Sally | Defending the Faith Conference

More examples

Several adolescents joined the club.
She studied adolescent development.
He remembered his adolescent years.

Forms

adolescent · adolescents

adolescence noun — the stage between childhood and adulthood

Similar words

teenager: Specifically someone aged thirteen through nineteen.
youth: A broader young age or young person.