adolescentad‧o‧les‧cent /ˌædəˈlesənt◂/ ●○○ noun [countable] 
► see thesaurus at child, young—adolescent adjective:
adolescent girls → child
WORD ORIGINadolescent
Origin:
1400-1500 French, Latin, present participle of adolescere; ➔ ADULT2EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- An estimated 62 million Americans smoke, including 4.1 million adolescents aged 12-17.
- John changed from a friendly and cheerful young boy into a confused adolescent.
- As the individual adolescent seeks to grow more independent of the family, peer groups and friends become important points of reference.
- At age 20 in 1910, Egon Schiele still had the hypersensitivity of an adolescent, which was good news for art.
- Ben, an awkward adolescent, is closer to being a successfully evolved man than the grown ones he encounters.
- Even more foolishly, the besotted adolescent attempted to extend the relationship, and chased Byron to Geneva.
- Lately he had been as moody as an adolescent and about as helpful.
- Oddly, Courtney became a difficult young adolescent.
- The working class adolescent of the 60s had quite a job deciding what to do with his hair.
THESAURUS
someone who is not yet an adult. You don’t usually use child to talk about babies or teenagers: · Many children are scared of the dark.· He’s just a child.
informal a child. Kid is the usual word to use in everyday spoken English: · We left the kids in the car.
a young male or female child: · I lived there when I was a little girl.· Little boys love dinosaurs.
someone between the ages of 13 and 19: · There’s not much for teenagers to do around here.
a young person who is developing into an adult – used especially when talking about the problems these people have: · He changed from a cheerful child to a confused adolescent.
especially disapproving a teenage boy – especially one who is violent and commits crimes: · He was attacked by a gang of youths.· a youth court
a child or young person – used especially by old people: · You youngsters have got your whole life ahead of you.· He’s a bright youngster with a good sense of humour.
law someone who is not yet legally an adult: · It is illegal to sell alcohol to a minor.
not old: · a young man of about 22· My dad died when I was young.· There are excellent facilities for young children.· Young people are often unable to get jobs.
a small child is very young. Little sounds more informal than small, and is used especially in spoken English: · They have two small children.· We used to go camping a lot when the kids were little.
[only before noun] between the ages of 13 and 19: · a group of teenage boys· They have three teenage children.
especially written at the age when you change from being a child into an adult – used especially when talking about the problems that young people have at this age: · Sudden mood changes are common in adolescent girls.· adolescent behaviour
[only before noun] formal connected with young people who commit crime: · juvenile crime· a special prison for juvenile offenders· juvenile delinquents (=young people who commit crimes)
especially written seeming young, or typical of someone who is young – often used about someone who is no longer young: · a youthful 55-year-old· youthful enthusiasm· Andrew still has a slim youthful look about him.· The photograph showed a youthful, smiling Rose.
connected with sports played by young people rather than adults: · the junior championships· the junior champion
Longman Language Activatora young person someone who is between 13 and 19 years old: · River Phoenix became a famous actor while still a teenager.· The survey shows that four out of five teenagers have experimented with illegal drugs.
a young man between about 15 and 25 years old - use this especially about groups of young men who behave badly or do something illegal: · One of the youths pushed her against the wall and took her bag.· The police had questioned three youths, but then later released them without charge.· a gang of youths on motorbikes
someone who is in their teens is between 13 and 19 years old: · She had run away from home several times in her teens.in your early/mid/late teens: · Most of the girls at the concert were in their early teens.
someone who is at the age when they change from being a child into a young adult - use this especially when talking about problems that young people have at this age: · John changed from a friendly and cheerful young boy into a confused adolescent.· An estimated 62 million Americans smoke, including 4.1 million adolescents aged 12-17.
a person under the age when they legally become an adult - used in legal contexts: · Stores are forbidden to sell alcohol and cigarettes to minors.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES A group of teenage boys stood talking in a group outside.
a young person, usually between the ages of 12 and 18, who is developing into an adult A group of teenage boys stood talking in a group outside.► see thesaurus at child, young—adolescent adjective:
adolescent girls → child