Words / B2

ad-uh-LESNS/ˌædəˈlesns/

Adolescence is the period of life between childhood and adulthood (usually uncountable): in adolescence; adolescence and. An adolescent is the person; puberty is the physical change; teenage is informal. Quote the age band for adolescence in the NHS table, then the n. Mix-up: adolescence vs adults; obsolescence; do not write adolescence for a single birthday or for childhood.

Meaning

The period of life between childhood and adulthood (usually uncountable).

Examples

• “Quote the age band for adolescence in the NHS table, then the n, not a teen-magazine caption.”
• “Adolescence featured in the developmental-psychology extract, which is the life-stage sense — still name the years if given.”

Good to know

in / during adolescence; adolescence and adulthood. Person: adolescent. Close: puberty / teenage years. Trap: obsolescence / a single birthday. Biology, PSHE, and citizenship. The teenage years as a life stage — quote the age band.

Near in meaning

teenage years, youth, puberty

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