adulthood
B1Neutral to formal. Common in academic, legal, psychological, and everyday contexts.
Definition
Meaning
The state or period of being fully grown, mature, and legally responsible.
The period of life following childhood and adolescence, characterized by independence, responsibility, and often career and family commitments.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
A mass noun; does not have a plural form. Conceptualized as both a state (being an adult) and a life stage (the years of being an adult). Often contrasted with 'childhood' and 'adolescence'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Minor variation in typical collocations (e.g., 'entering adulthood' slightly more common in UK, 'reaching adulthood' in US), but both are fully understood and used in both regions.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/literary connotation in both varieties. Can carry neutral, positive (responsibility, independence), or slightly negative (burdens, loss of innocence) connotations depending on context.
Frequency
High frequency in both, with very similar distribution across registers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] + adulthood (e.g., enter, reach)[adjective] + adulthood (e.g., early, responsible)[preposition] + adulthood (e.g., in adulthood, during adulthood)adulthood + [verb] (e.g., adulthood brings, adulthood requires)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Not commonly used in idiomatic phrases. It is the base term itself.]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR contexts regarding legal working age, benefits, and career development stages (e.g., 'training programmes targeting young adults entering adulthood').
Academic
Frequent in psychology, sociology, and developmental studies (e.g., 'The study examined risk factors present in early adulthood.').
Everyday
Common in discussions about life stages, parenting, and personal milestones (e.g., 'My son is on the cusp of adulthood.').
Technical
Used in legal contexts to denote the age of majority (e.g., 'Upon reaching adulthood at 18, the trust becomes accessible.').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- She will soon come of age and adulthood.
American English
- He legally reached adulthood on his eighteenth birthday.
adverb
British English
- He behaved quite adultly about the situation.
American English
- She handled the crisis very maturely.
adjective
British English
- The adult life stage brings new duties.
American English
- Adult responsibilities can be daunting.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You become an adult in adulthood.
- Children grow up and become adults.
- Legally, adulthood begins at age 18 in many countries.
- He entered adulthood with a university degree and a job offer.
- The transition to adulthood is often marked by increased independence and financial responsibility.
- Sociologists study how economic factors affect the timing of major life events in adulthood.
- Prolonged adolescence has blurred the traditional boundaries of adulthood in post-industrial societies.
- The psychological concept of 'emerging adulthood' describes a distinct phase between adolescence and full adulthood.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ADULT + HOOD (like 'childhood'). The 'hood' suffix means 'state or condition of being'. So, adulthood = the state of being an adult.
Conceptual Metaphor
Adulthood is a JOURNEY/DESTINATION ('enter', 'reach', 'transition into'). Adulthood is a CONTAINER/PERIOD ('in adulthood', 'during adulthood'). Adulthood is a BURDEN/RESPONSIBILITY ('responsibilities of adulthood').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'взрослость' – this is non-standard. Use 'взрослая жизнь' (adult life) or 'зрелый возраст' (mature age). For the state, 'совершеннолетие' (legal majority) is specific. Context is key.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'adulthoods' (plural is incorrect). Confusing with 'adultness' (non-standard/rare). Misspelling as 'adult hood' (should be one word).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a typical collocation with 'adulthood'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an uncountable (mass) noun. You cannot say 'an adulthood' or 'adulthoods'.
'Adulthood' primarily refers to the legal or life stage of being an adult. 'Maturity' focuses on the psychological, emotional, or behavioral characteristics of being fully developed, which can occur at various ages.
Yes. Legally, it's defined by the 'age of majority' (often 18 or 21). Biologically, it's linked to physical maturation. Socially and psychologically, it's more fluid and can be defined by milestones like financial independence or starting a family.
Use it precisely to denote the life stage or state. Employ common academic collocations like 'transition into adulthood,' 'early adulthood,' or 'in adulthood.' Always contrast it clearly with preceding life stages like 'childhood' and 'adolescence.'