pubescent

[ pyoo-bes-uhnt ]

adjective

1. arriving or arrived at puberty.
2. Botany, Zoology. covered with down or fine short hair.

pubescent

/ pjuːˈbɛsənt /

adjective

1. arriving or having arrived at puberty
2. (of certain plants and animals or their parts) covered with a layer of fine short hairs or down

Derived Forms

• puˈbescence, noun

Other Words From

• pu·bescence pu·bescen·cy noun
• subpu·bescent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of pubescent¹

1640–50; < Latin pūbēscent- (stem of pūbēscēns ), present participle of pūbēscere to attain puberty, reach puberty, become hairy or downy. See pubes ¹, -escent

Word History and Origins

Origin of pubescent¹

C17: from Latin pūbēscere to reach manhood, from pūber adult

Example Sentences

A pubescent Usher temporarily lost his voice after recording the first album, pushing him to focus on honing his dance skills and stage presence.

From New York Times

My pubescent nerves did a pirouette in my stomach as we hung up, retreating to the haven of instant messages.

From Los Angeles Times

To the moody strains of Sheik’s alt-rock score, the vise of adolescence is captured in a story about pubescent youths rebelling against the warping will of adult hypocrisy and repression.

From Los Angeles Times

All these form an enormous playground where monumental things happen at inopportune times, each song a zoetrope world built for consoling and commiserating with the pains of being pubescent.

From Washington Post

The teenagers are the focus, but they're also pubescent versions of the Boomers watching at home, enabling parents to make the case to their kids, and themselves, that they used to be edgy.

From Salon

Related Words

• adolescent
• boyish
• childish
• childlike
• enthusiastic
• girlish
• inexperienced
• underage
• young