# pubescent

/pjuːbˈɛsənt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pubescent
Updated: 2026-10-15

## Definition

going through puberty, when a child's body starts to change into an adult's body.

For teachers: undergoing puberty; developing from childhood toward sexual maturity. Typically describes children roughly between the ages of 10 and 15.

## Examples

- The pubescent boy suddenly grows taller every month.
- The school nurse talks to pubescent students about the physical changes they will experience.
- The novel captures the restless inner life of its pubescent heroine, caught between childhood habits and adult desires she does not yet understand.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.