pubertal

adjective

pu·​ber·​tal ˈpyü-bər-tᵊl How to pronounce pubertal (audio)
variants or puberal
: of or relating to puberty

Examples of pubertal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The human body can respond to these naturally occurring hormonal differences in a variety of ways; for example, during male puberty, many kids will have a temporary enlargement of their breast tissue, known as pubertal gynecomastia, in response to swelling hormones. Bethany Brookshire, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2024 Childhood obesity rates in the U.S. have risen from 5% in the 1970s to 20% by 2018, and some studies link obesity to earlier pubertal development in girls and delayed puberty in boys. Alexa Lee, STAT, 7 Mar. 2024 By pausing puberty, these drugs buy children more time to explore their gender identity before undergoing permanent and potentially unwanted pubertal changes. Helen Santoro, CBS News, 27 June 2023 That stance, though, was bolstered by a recent study from Dr. Juul’s group showing that, of 205 pubertal children younger than 8 who underwent brain scans, just 1.8 percent of girls and 12.5 percent of boys had brain abnormalities indicating central precocious puberty. New York Times, 19 May 2022 See all Example Sentences for pubertal 

Word History

Etymology

pubertal from puberty + -al entry 1; puberal borrowed from Late Latin pūberālis, from pūber, variant of Latin pūbēs "physically mature, adult" + Latin -ālis -al entry 1 — more at puberty

First Known Use

circa 1856, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pubertal was circa 1856

Dictionary Entries Near pubertal

Cite this Entry

“Pubertal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pubertal. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

pubertal

adjective
pu·​ber·​tal ˈpyü-bərt-ᵊl How to pronounce pubertal (audio)
: of, relating to, or occurring in puberty
pubertal development
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