noun
puberty
PYOO-ber-tee/ˈpjuːbərti/
The stage of life when the body develops sexual maturity.
The health class discusses growth and other changes during puberty.
Etymology
The pieces express the condition of being full-grown: Latin pubertas meant the age of maturity. In English, that maturity is specifically sexual—the stage when reproduction becomes possible.
In context
this 13 14 15 year old hasn't gone through puberty hasn't hit the growth spurt hasn't matured in the way that all of his or her classmates have
More examples
- Puberty began at different ages among the students.
- The book explains puberty in neutral terms.
- She taught a lesson about puberty.
Forms
puberty
Similar words
- adolescence
- A broader transition that includes social and emotional development.
- maturation
- Any process of developing toward maturity.