Meanings
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1
noun
the period of life after a person has reached physical and legal maturity
The first responsibilities of adulthood still seemed far away to the children.
-
2
noun
the state of being fully grown or mature
The bird's plumage changes when it reaches adulthood.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Opposites
Word family
Derived forms
subadulthood
Etymology
A compound of adult and the state-forming suffix -hood. Adult comes from Latin adultus, 'grown up,' the past participle of adolescere, 'to grow up.' Adulthood therefore shares its deeper history with adolescence.