mental age

noun

, Psychology.

1. the level of native mental ability or capacity of an individual, usually as determined by an intelligence test, in relation to the chronological age of the average individual at this level:

   a ten-year-old child with the mental age of a twelve-year-old; a mental age of twelve.

mental age

noun

1. psychol the mental ability of a child, expressed in years and based on a comparison of his test performance with the performance of children with a range of chronological ages See also intelligence quotient

Word History and Origins

Origin of mental age¹

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

It’s not cute watching and adult man regress to the mental age of a three-year-old.

From Salon

Sheila's last recorded child assessment the following April judged her to be functioning at the mental age of a child of 18 months.

From BBC

A third defendant, who was 15 at the time but with the mental age of a 10-year old, was sentenced for affray and for encouraging or assisting grievous bodily harm with intent.

From BBC

He has the mental age of a baby of around six months old.

From BBC

His lawyer, M. Ravi, said Nagaenthran, now 33, “could possibly have a mental age below 18” and that the disability doesn’t allow him to understand or appreciate deterrence.

From Seattle Times