Word
adolescent
Phoneticsado·les·cent
US/ˌædəˈɫɛsənt/
UK/ˌædəlˈɛsənt/
Definitions
01a young person
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. a young person who is developing into an adult, usually between the ages of 12 and 18.
n. a person in the period of life between puberty and legal adulthood.
“The program helps adolescents develop the social skills they need for high school.”
“Psychologists often study how adolescents navigate the complex transition from parental dependence to individual autonomy during their teenage years.”
02relating to teenagers
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to the time of life when you are growing from a child into an adult.
adj. characteristic of or relating to the period of adolescence.
“She still remembers the adolescent friendships she made at summer camp.”
“The novel captures the intensity of adolescent emotions and the struggle to define one's identity in a rapidly changing social environment.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “adolescent” in context.
Verb
01. counsel an adolescent
“Social workers are trained to counsel an adolescent through difficult family transitions.”
verb + noun
02. treat an adolescent
“The clinic is specifically designed to treat an adolescent struggling with eating disorders.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. rebellious adolescent
“It is common for a rebellious adolescent to challenge their parents' authority.”
adj + noun
04. troubled adolescent
“The charity provides specialized counseling services for the troubled adolescent.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. adolescent behavior
“Peer pressure plays a significant role in shaping adolescent behavior.”
noun + noun
06. adolescent development
“The course focuses on the biological and psychological aspects of adolescent development.”
noun + noun
07. needs of adolescents
“Educators must adapt their teaching styles to meet the specific needs of adolescents.”
noun + of + noun
Real-World Examples
“It would be impossible for me to think about my adolescent relationship to reading, and my relationship as an adult to language, without Lorca.” “Christie Spessard’s play has verve, capturing the extremes of adolescent life and competitive sport.” “The United Nations Population Fund ( UNFPA ) warned that in these types of emergencies, girls, women and adolescents may face increased risks of gender-based violence and difficulties accessing health services.” “Psychologist Candice Odgers has studied adolescent mental health for 25 years.” Etymology
First attested ?1440, from Middle English adolescent, from Middle French adolescent or directly from Latin adolescentem, accusative form of adolescens, present participle of adolēscere (“to become adult, grow up”), from ad- (“to”) + alēscere (“to grow or become nourished”). The adjective first appeared in 1785.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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