maturation
C1Formal, academic, technical
Definition
Meaning
The process of becoming mature, fully developed, or ripe; the process of reaching an advanced or completed state of development.
In biology/medicine: The process by which cells, organisms, or systems differentiate and reach their functional state. In psychology: The emergence of personal and behavioral characteristics through growth processes. In finance: The process of a financial instrument becoming due for payment.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a natural, internal, or biological process of development towards a final, optimal state. Contrasts with 'learning' (external) or 'growth' (can be quantitative without qualitative change).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Slightly more common in formal British English; equally prevalent in American academic/technical contexts.
Frequency
Similar frequency in both varieties within technical/scientific registers; slightly less common in everyday speech in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
N maturation of NV (to) maturationADJ maturationVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Come to maturation”
- “Reach full maturation”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to the point at which an investment or product line becomes fully developed and profitable (e.g., 'the maturation of our overseas markets').
Academic
Describes developmental processes in biology, psychology, or sociology (e.g., 'cognitive maturation in adolescents').
Everyday
Used metaphorically for personal growth or aging (e.g., 'His opinions showed considerable maturation over the years').
Technical
Specific processes in science/medicine (e.g., 'erythrocyte maturation in the bone marrow').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The cheese is left to mature in the caves for several months.
- His ideas matured during his time abroad.
American English
- The investment will mature in ten years.
- She matured greatly after taking on more responsibility.
adverb
British English
- He acted very maturely in the crisis.
- The wine has matured beautifully.
American English
- She responded maturely to the criticism.
- The project has matured sufficiently.
adjective
British English
- A mature student returned to university.
- The plan is not yet mature enough for implementation.
American English
- He showed a mature attitude for his age.
- The technology is now considered mature.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The apple needs time for maturation before we can eat it.
- Emotional maturation continues well into adulthood.
- The maturation of the company's international strategy took nearly a decade.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a MATURE RATION - you need the right 'ration' of time and experience to become MATURE → maturation.
Conceptual Metaphor
MATURATION IS A JOURNEY TO COMPLETION / MATURATION IS RIPENING (like fruit).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'созревание' in all contexts; for abstract/intellectual development, prefer 'развитие' or 'становление'. Avoid direct calque 'матурация'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'maturation' for simple 'aging' without developmental progress. Confusing with 'maturity' (state) vs. 'maturation' (process).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'maturation' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Growth can be simple increase in size. Maturation implies qualitative development towards a final, functional, or mature state.
Yes, especially for products that improve with time (cheese, wine, whisky) or for product development cycles in business.
The verb is 'to mature'. 'Maturate' is a rare, technical back-formation and is best avoided in general English.
It is common in academic, scientific, and professional contexts, but less frequent in casual conversation where 'growing up' or 'developing' might be used.