subadolescent

adjective

sub·​ad·​o·​les·​cent ˌsəb-ˌa-də-ˈle-sᵊnt 

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