adolescence
B2formal, academic, medical, everyday (though often replaced by 'teenage years' in casual speech)
Definition
Meaning
the period of life between childhood and adulthood.
A transitional phase of physical and psychological development; a state or process of growing up, maturation, or finding one's identity.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Focuses on the *state* or *period* itself, not the individual. The related countable noun 'adolescent' refers to the person.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Equally formal/academic in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in formal/academic contexts than in casual conversation in both regions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[possessive] adolescence (e.g., *His adolescence was difficult.*)the adolescence of [noun] (e.g., *the adolescence of the nation*)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “*Extended adolescence* (a prolonged period of dependency)”
- “*Awkward age* (a related informal phrase for early adolescence)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might appear in HR/development contexts: 'The company invests in programmes targeting the transition from adolescence to the workforce.'
Academic
Very common in psychology, sociology, medicine, and education: 'The study examines cognitive development during adolescence.'
Everyday
Used, but often replaced by simpler terms: 'He had a pretty rough time in his adolescence.'
Technical
Core term in developmental psychology and paediatric medicine, with specific sub-stages (e.g., early, middle, late adolescence).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The species adolesces over several years.
- (Note: 'adolesce' is extremely rare and non-standard)
American English
- (No standard verb form in common use)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form)
American English
- (No standard adverb form)
adjective
British English
- The adolescent stage is crucial.
- She displayed adolescent angst.
American English
- The adolescent phase is critical.
- He had adolescent acne.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- Her brother is in his adolescence.
- Adolescence starts at about age 12 or 13.
- Many physical changes happen during adolescence.
- He remembers his adolescence as a happy time.
- Psychologists stress the importance of supportive relationships throughout adolescence.
- The challenges of adolescence can shape a person's future identity.
- The novel explores the protracted adolescence of its protagonist, who fails to assume adult responsibilities.
- Society's conception of adolescence has evolved significantly since the 19th century.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ADOLESCENCE has 'ADULT' hidden inside it (adolESCENCE). It's the process of BECOMING an adult.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADOLESCENCE IS A JOURNEY / A BRIDGE / A STORMY SEA / A TRANSITIONAL ZONE.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'юность' (youth, young adulthood). 'Adolescence' is specifically the teen years, roughly 13-19. 'Юность' can extend into early 20s. 'Подростковый возраст' is the closest equivalent.
- The adjective 'adolescent' can imply immaturity ('adolescent behaviour'), not just age.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a countable noun for a person (INCORRECT: *'He is an adolescence.'* CORRECT: *'He is an adolescent.'*)
- Misspelling as 'adolescense'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the BEST synonym for 'adolescence' in a formal text?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Puberty is the specific biological process of physical sexual maturation. Adolescence is the broader psychosocial period that includes but is not limited to puberty.
'Adolescent' is more formal/clinical and refers to the developmental stage. 'Teenager' is an informal, age-based term (13-19). An individual can be both.
Yes, metaphorically. E.g., 'the adolescence of a nation' or 'the adolescence of cinema' refers to its early, formative发展阶段.
'Adolescent' (e.g., adolescent behaviour, adolescent psychology). Do not use 'adolescential'.