prepubescent

[ pree-pyoo-bes-uhnt ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the years immediately preceding puberty, prepubertal.

noun

1. a prepubescent boy or girl.

prepubescent

/ ˌpriːpjuːˈbɛsənt /

noun

1. a person who has not yet reached puberty

adjective

1. not yet having reached puberty

Other Words From

• prepu·bescence noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of prepubescent¹

First recorded in 1900–05; pre- + pubescent

Example Sentences

Optimal bone health starts in utero, but our prepubescent years are key to setting our skeleton up for later life.

From Salon

The charges describe the images as involving prepubescent girls, infants and toddlers.

From Seattle Times

On the contrary, we live in a culture so hell-bent on de-aging women into prepubescent girls.

From Salon

Terrified of socializing with people her own age, she claims to prefer hanging out in the family chateau with her prepubescent niece and the maid.

From New York Times

Who could have figured the largest following was for a prepubescent Korean American who was first identified as a prodigy in a YouTube video at age 7.

From Los Angeles Times