young adult
HighFormal to neutral, with specific formal use as a demographic and literary classification.
Definition
Meaning
A person in the late teenage years or early twenties, roughly between 18 and 25 years old, who is transitioning from adolescence to full adulthood.
A literary genre (Young Adult or YA fiction) and a demographic category, marketing segment, or life stage characterized by this age group and their associated experiences, concerns, and transitional status.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
While primarily a noun phrase describing an age group, the term functions as a compound nominal. As a genre label ('YA'), it is a proper noun and is sometimes hyphenated ('young-adult fiction'). The age range is flexible and can extend into the late 20s in some sociological contexts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the abbreviation 'YA' is more dominant in American publishing and marketing. 'Young person' is a common alternative in UK formal/legal contexts.
Connotations
The demographic term is neutral; the literary genre can carry connotations of being primarily for teenagers, though it has a significant adult readership.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in AmE, particularly in retail and media, reflecting market segmentation.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Adj/Det] + young adult + [verb]young adult + [prep. phrase][Verb] + young adult + [to-infinitive]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No specific idioms for the phrase itself; it forms part of descriptive phrases like 'coming of age' which is central to YA themes]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A key market segment for products like technology, fashion, and entertainment; 'the young adult demographic'.
Academic
Used in sociology, psychology, and literary studies to discuss developmental stages or analyze a genre.
Everyday
Used to describe someone's age group or to talk about books and films aimed at that age group.
Technical
In library science, a specific classification (YA); in demography, a defined age cohort (e.g., 18-24).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The young-adult section is at the back of the library.
- She writes young-adult fantasy novels.
American English
- The YA section is very popular.
- It's a young adult contemporary romance.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My sister is a young adult. She is 20 years old.
- This book is for young adults.
- Many young adults move to the city to study or find work.
- The film is popular with a young adult audience.
- The library has launched a new program aimed at engaging young adults in reading.
- Politicians are increasingly trying to appeal to the concerns of young adults, such as student debt and housing.
- The sociological study focused on the precarious employment conditions faced by contemporary young adults.
- The novel, though categorised as young adult fiction, explores complex themes of identity and trauma with remarkable nuance.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Young' means not old, 'Adult' means grown-up. A 'young adult' is a freshly grown-up person, like a new plant that's just reached its full size.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE JOURNEY (transition, coming of age, path to independence), THE THRESHOLD (being on the verge of full adulthood).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'молодёжь' (youth) which is broader and often implies teenagers. 'Молодой взрослый' is a direct calque but sounds formal; 'человек в возрасте около 20 лет' (person around 20) or specifying the age is often more natural in non-specialist contexts.
- The genre 'YA fiction' is often translated as 'литература для молодёжи' or simply known as 'YA'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'young adult' to refer to a 13-year-old (too young).
- Pronouncing 'adult' with stress on the first syllable in AmE when meaning the person (common, but the second-syllable stress is standard).
- Confusing 'Young Adult' (the genre) with 'New Adult' (a related genre focusing on 18-30s).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'young adult' used as a proper noun?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
While flexible, it most commonly refers to people aged approximately 18 to 25, encompassing the transition from adolescence to full independence.
They overlap significantly, but 'YA' (Young Adult) typically targets readers aged 12-18, though the protagonists are often teenagers and the themes (identity, relationships, conflict with authority) appeal to the 'young adult' life stage. 'Teen fiction' can sometimes imply a slightly younger focus.
Absolutely. While marketed to teenagers, YA literature is read by people of all ages. The categorization refers to the protagonist's age and the themes, not the age of the reader.
'Young Adult' (YA) typically features protagonists aged 15-18 and focuses on themes of first love, identity, and conflict with authority. 'New Adult' (NA) features protagonists aged 18-25+ and explores themes of early adulthood, like college, first careers, living independently, and more mature relationships.