puberty

[ pyoo-ber-tee ]
/ ˈpyu bər ti /

noun

the period or age at which a person is first capable of sexual reproduction of offspring: in common law, presumed to be 14 years in the male and 12 years in the female.

Origin of puberty

1350–1400; Middle English puberte < Latin pūbertās adulthood, equivalent to pūber-, stem of pūbēs grown-up + -tās -ty2

OTHER WORDS FROM puberty

post·pu·ber·ty, adjective

Words nearby puberty

Example sentences from the Web for post-puberty

British Dictionary definitions for post-puberty

puberty
/ (ˈpjuːbətɪ) /

noun

the period at the beginning of adolescence when the sex glands become functional and the secondary sexual characteristics emerge Also called: pubescence Related adjective: hebetic

Derived forms of puberty

pubertal, adjective

Word Origin for puberty

C14: from Latin pūbertās maturity, from pūber adult

Medical definitions for post-puberty

puberty
[ pyōōbər-tē ]

n.

The stage of adolescence in which an individual becomes physiologically capable of sexual reproduction.

Scientific definitions for post-puberty

puberty
[ pyōōbər-tē ]

The stage in the development of humans and other primates marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics, including menarche in females. In humans, puberty occurs at the onset of adolescence, between the ages of about 11 and 14 in girls and 13 and 16 in boys.