- fully grown or developed
- preparing young people for adult life
- He was a healthy young adult male.
- the adult population
- adult monkeys
- She spent her entire adult life caring for others.
- behaving in an intelligent and responsible way; typical of what is expected of an adult synonym grown-up1
- When my parents split up, it was all very adult and open.
- Young children become quickly bored by adult conversation.
- [only before noun] (of a film, magazine, book, etc.) intended for adults only because it is about sex or shows people with no clothes on
- an adult movie
see also adulthood, young adult
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from Latin adultus, past participle of adolescere ‘grow to maturity’, from ad- ‘to’ + alescere ‘grow, grow up’, from alere ‘nourish’.
Check pronunciation:
adult