puberty
noun
pu·ber·ty
ˈpyü-bər-tē 
1
: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the reproductive organs (such as the testes and ovaries), development of secondary sex characteristics (such as male facial hair growth and female breast development), and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female
2
: the age at which puberty occurs often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls
Examples of puberty in a Sentence
He reached puberty later than most of his classmates.
Recent Examples on the Web
The documents revealed the hospital’s insertion of puberty blockers in patients as young as 11.
—
Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Jan. 2025
Before puberty, there is no radical contrast in athletic performances between boys and girls.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Phthalates have been associated with endocrine and reproductive issues, metabolic disorders, early puberty, endometriosis, and infertility in both men and women.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
As states across the country banned hormone treatment and puberty blockers for trans youth, some medical practices halted care — and pharmacies stopped providing prescriptions — before they were legally required to.
—Orion Rummler, Them, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for puberty 
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Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Jan. 2025
Before puberty, there is no radical contrast in athletic performances between boys and girls.
—Louisa Thomas, The New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2025
Phthalates have been associated with endocrine and reproductive issues, metabolic disorders, early puberty, endometriosis, and infertility in both men and women.
—Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 12 Jan. 2025
As states across the country banned hormone treatment and puberty blockers for trans youth, some medical practices halted care — and pharmacies stopped providing prescriptions — before they were legally required to.
—Orion Rummler, Them, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for puberty
Dictionary Entries Near puberty
Cite this Entry
“Puberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puberty. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
puberty
noun
pu·ber·ty
pyü-bərt-ē
1
: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the sex organs (as the testes and ovaries) and is marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics (as male facial hair growth and female breast development) and by the occurrence of the first menstruation in the female
2
: the age at which puberty occurs often defined legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls
Medical Definition
puberty
noun
pu·ber·ty
ˈpyü-bərt-ē
plural puberties
1
: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually marked by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics, and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female
2
: the age at which puberty occurs being typically between 13 and 16 years in boys and 11 and 14 in girls and often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls
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