maturity
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the quality of behaving in a sensible and adult way.
the state of being fully developed in character or emotional intelligence, typically associated with adult behavior.
Simple“He showed great maturity by staying calm during the difficult argument.”
In context“The candidate demonstrated a level of emotional maturity that far exceeded her years, handling the aggressive questioning with poise and professional distance.”
Usageuncountable in this sense
SynonymsAntonymsimmaturitychildishness - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the state of being fully grown or developed physically.
the stage of life at which an organism has reached full physical development or is capable of reproduction.
Simple“The trees reach maturity after about twenty years of growth.”
In context“The researchers monitored the colony until the individuals reached sexual maturity, at which point the migration patterns shifted significantly.”
Usageuncountable in biological contexts
- 03 C1 Advanced
the time when an investment or insurance policy is ready to be paid back.
the end of the period for which a financial instrument is issued, at which point the principal is due to be repaid.
Simple“The bond will pay out its full value when it reaches maturity in five years.”
In context“Upon reaching maturity, the long-term treasury bonds were liquidated to provide the necessary capital for the firm's planned expansion into emerging markets.”
Usageoften used with the preposition 'at'
Synonyms
From Middle English maturitee, maturyte, from Old French maturité, from Latin mātūritātem. By surface analysis, mature + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.