Words / B2

ad-uh-LESNT/ˌædəˈlesnt/

An adolescent is a young person developing into an adult — the more formal, slightly clinical word for a teenager. Teenager is the everyday noun; youth can mean a young man or young people as a group. Adolescence is the period. In speech, teenager is almost always better. Do not use adolescent as a lazy insult for childish adult behaviour unless you want that sting.

Meaning

A young person who is developing into an adult.

Examples

• “The book is written for adolescents.”
• “The clinic runs a weekly group for adolescents and their parents.”
• “Adolescent sleep patterns often clash with an early school start.”

Good to know

Formal/clinical for teenager. Period: adolescence. Everyday: teenager. Adjective: adolescent (behaviour, years).

Near in meaning

teenager

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