teenager
HighNeutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
A person aged between 13 and 19 years old.
A person undergoing the transition from childhood to adulthood, typically characterized by rapid physical, emotional, and social development.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term explicitly references the '-teen' suffix in the numbers thirteen to nineteen. While it denotes a specific age range, it also strongly implies a cultural and developmental stage associated with adolescence.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is virtually identical. Both dialects use 'teenager' as the standard term. Minor spelling differences in related words (e.g., 'paediatrician' vs. 'pediatrician') do not apply to 'teenager' itself.
Connotations
Neutral in both, though can carry slightly negative societal stereotypes in informal contexts (e.g., moody, rebellious).
Frequency
Extremely high frequency in both dialects. Slightly more formal alternatives like 'adolescent' are equally common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[adjective] teenagerteenager from [place]teenager who [clause]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms with 'teenager' as a component. Related: 'teen angst', 'coming of age'.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in marketing/demographics (e.g., 'targeting teenagers').
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and education literature, often alongside 'adolescent'.
Everyday
Extremely common in general conversation and media.
Technical
Used in legal, medical, and social work contexts to specify age group.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The word 'teenager' is not used as a verb.
American English
- The word 'teenager' is not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- The word 'teenager' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- The word 'teenager' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The teenager experience varies greatly.
- She faced typical teenager problems.
American English
- The teenager experience varies greatly.
- He has a teenager daughter.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister is a teenager.
- Many teenagers like music and sports.
- The library has a special section of books for teenagers.
- When I was a teenager, I lived in Manchester.
- The government has launched a new initiative aimed at improving mental health support for teenagers.
- Raising a teenager requires a great deal of patience and understanding.
- Sociologists are studying the impact of social media on the cognitive development of contemporary teenagers.
- The novel provides a poignant exploration of a teenager's struggle with identity and societal expectations.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
TEENager: contains the word TEEN, which is in all the ages from thirTEEN to nineTEEN.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE TEENAGE YEARS ARE A JOURNEY/TRANSITION (e.g., 'navigating the teenage years', 'a bridge between childhood and adulthood').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'тинейджер' in formal written Russian; use 'подросток'. 'Тинейджер' is a colloquial borrowing.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'teeneger' or 'teenager' (incorrect). Using 'teen' (noun) in overly formal contexts where 'teenager' is expected.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is the closest synonym for 'teenager' in a formal context?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is neutral. It is acceptable in formal writing, though 'adolescent' can be more technical.
Yes, technically they are still 'teenagers' as their age ends in '-teen'. However, in some legal and social contexts, they are considered adults.
'Teen' is an informal, shortened form of 'teenager'. It is common in casual speech and compound nouns (e.g., 'teen pop').
Not inherently. Its connotation depends on context and modifying adjectives (e.g., 'responsible teenager' vs. 'troubled teenager').