ad·o·les·cent
ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊnt 
: a young person who is developing into an adult : one who is in the state of adolescence
1
: of, relating to, or being in adolescence
adolescent growth
adolescent boys and girls
2
: emotionally or intellectually immature
did not appreciate her husband's adolescent high jinks
adolescently
adverb
Examples of adolescent in a Sentence
Noun
Their children are now adolescents.
Adjective
an adolescent sheepdog, who hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping the sheep huddled together
would hope that the college students had outgrown such adolescent behavior
Recent Examples on the Web
Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Another study said that the monthly antidepressant dispensing rate for adolescents and young adults increased to 66.3 percent between 2016 and 2022 — a number that jumped by 17 percent per month in 2020 alone.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
Based on Masashi Kishimoto’s long-running manga series, Naruto follows a misunderstood adolescent ninja working to clear his name and polish his powers.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
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Noun
The World Health Organization says that 81 percent of adolescents worldwide do not get enough physical activity, noting that rates of sedentary behavior in young people tend to rise as their country develops economically.
—Henry Abbott, The Atlantic, 12 July 2025
Another study said that the monthly antidepressant dispensing rate for adolescents and young adults increased to 66.3 percent between 2016 and 2022 — a number that jumped by 17 percent per month in 2020 alone.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 July 2025
Adjective
Whatever the answer, the most enjoyable parts of Friday’s concert offered more than just a chance for attendees to revisit their adolescent years in song by channeling anew feelings of young love, longing and fresh-faced angst.
—George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 July 2025
Based on Masashi Kishimoto’s long-running manga series, Naruto follows a misunderstood adolescent ninja working to clear his name and polish his powers.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 12 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for adolescent
Cite this Entry
“Adolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adolescent. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
adolescent
1 of 2 noun
ad·o·les·cent
-ᵊnt
: one that is in the state of adolescence
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