adultescentn.
/ˌadʌlˈtɛsnt/, U.S. /ˌædəlˈtɛs(ə)nt/ Chiefly Journalism (originally Marketing).
An adult who has retained the interests, behaviour, or lifestyle of adolescence. Cf. kidult n. and adj., Middle Youth n. at middle adj. and n. Compounds 1a.
ΚΠ
1996 Precision Marketing 17 June 21/4 Consider the importance of adultescents to the music biz—they make up over a third of the audience at gigs, but have more cash to spend than teenagers.
2004 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 26 Dec. iv. 4/3 The cost of housing and education..has made it harder for young people..to afford homes and children... But if you ask adultescents why they haven't grown up, they may give you a simple answer: because they don't have to.
2007 C. Daniels Ghettonation i. 37 Adultescents can have full-time jobs and live with their mothers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2011; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1996