DictionarymajorityLegal adulthood
noun

majority

The age at which a person legally becomes an adult.

The inheritance becomes available when she reaches majority.

Etymology

The Latin ancestor concerns being greater or older. Legal majority is the status reached when a person is recognized as old enough to exercise adult rights.

More examples

  • The document defines when the beneficiary attains majority.
  • Before reaching majority, he needed a guardian's consent.
  • The law set the age of majority for those decisions.

Forms

majority · majorities

Similar words

adulthood
The broader adult stage, not necessarily a legal threshold.