subadolescent

adjective

sub·​ad·​o·​les·​cent ˌsəb-ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊnt How to pronounce subadolescent (audio)
variants or sub-adolescent
1
: nearly adolescent : almost in the period of adolescence
subadolescent boys
2
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a subadolescent child
subadolescent humor
subadolescent noun
or sub-adolescent
plural subadolescents or sub-adolescents
The book's hero isn't really Peter Pan—neither James Barrie's heedless, heartless sprite with all his baby teeth nor the smirking subadolescent in tights featured in the Disney animated movie. Janet McConnaughey

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of subadolescent was in 1910

Dictionary Entries Near subadolescent

Cite this Entry

“Subadolescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/subadolescent. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!