adolescent
C1Formal, neutral. Common in academic, clinical, and general descriptive contexts.
Definition
Meaning
A young person in the process of developing from a child into an adult; typically between the ages of 13 and 19.
Also refers to the transitional period of physical, psychological, and social development between childhood and adulthood, and can be used adjectivally to describe characteristics, behaviour, or phenomena associated with this stage.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can function as both a noun (the person) and an adjective (relating to that stage). While sometimes used interchangeably with 'teenager', 'adolescent' carries stronger connotations of the developmental and psychological processes involved.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. 'Teenager' is slightly more common in everyday speech in both varieties, but 'adolescent' is equally standard.
Connotations
In both varieties, 'adolescent' may sound slightly more clinical, educational, or formal than 'teenager'. It often appears in contexts discussing psychology, health, or development.
Frequency
Used with similar frequency in academic and professional writing in both BrE and AmE.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Adolescent + noun (adj.)Adjective + adolescent (noun)Verb + adolescent (e.g., counsel an adolescent)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Adolescent angst”
- “To have an adolescent crush on someone”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in markets targeting this demographic (e.g., 'adolescent apparel').
Academic
Very common in psychology, sociology, medicine, and education literature.
Everyday
Used, but 'teenager' is often preferred in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in medical, psychological, and social work contexts to denote the specific developmental stage.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'adolesce' is obsolete and not used.
American English
- N/A - 'adolesce' is obsolete and not used.
adverb
British English
- N/A - No standard adverb form. Use 'in an adolescent manner/way'.
American English
- N/A - No standard adverb form. Use 'in an adolescent manner/way'.
adjective
British English
- The clinic specialises in adolescent mental health.
- His adolescent humour hasn't changed much.
American English
- The program addresses adolescent literacy rates.
- She wrote a book about adolescent rebellion.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My brother is an adolescent.
- Adolescents go to secondary school.
- Many adolescents spend a lot of time on their phones.
- It's a common problem during adolescent years.
- The study focused on the sleeping patterns of adolescents in urban areas.
- Her adolescent diaries reveal a lot about her early ambitions.
- Policymakers often fail to account for the specific socioeconomic vulnerabilities of the adolescent population.
- The novel brilliantly captures the protagonist's adolescent liminality and search for identity.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ADOLESCENT' containing 'ADULT' in its beginning (adol...) and 'SCENT' at the end. An adolescent is developing *into* an adult and is often concerned with how they *scent* (smell/appear) to others.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADOLESCENCE IS A BRIDGE (between childhood and adulthood). ADOLESCENCE IS A STORM (a turbulent, unpredictable period).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'подросток', which is a closer equivalent. Avoid using 'юноша' or 'девушка' as direct translations, as these can imply slightly older ages or have different gender specificity.
- 'Adolescent' as an adjective is often translated as 'подростковый' (e.g., adolescent psychology = подростковая психология).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'adolesent'.
- Using it as a countable noun without an article (e.g., 'He is adolescent' vs. 'He is an adolescent').
- Confusing it with 'adolescence' (the period) when needing the noun for the person.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'adolescent' MOST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They largely overlap, but 'adolescent' emphasizes the developmental and psychological aspects of the stage, while 'teenager' is more age-based and casual.
Yes, very commonly. For example: 'adolescent behavior', 'adolescent medicine', 'adolescent literature'.
'Adolescent' is a noun (the person) or an adjective (describing things related to that stage). 'Adolescence' is a noun referring only to the life stage or period itself.
Not inherently offensive, but it can sound clinical or impersonal. In everyday direct address, 'teenager' or 'young person' is often more natural and less likely to be perceived as cold.