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
Tennessee has banned gender-affirming care, such as puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy, for a specific demographic — trans youth — while allowing those same treatments for cisgender youth.
—
Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
But if the study had found that puberty blockers do indeed improve mental health, would the study still be unpublished?
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 29 Oct. 2024
The singer had gone through puberty and his voice was noticeably lower, and the track list strayed away from his past teen-pop sound, as Bieber played with elements of dance, R&B and hip-hop reflect a newer, more mature chapter in his career.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024
Many people have Fordyce spots at birth but don't notice them until puberty starts to enlarge oil glands.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 19 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for puberty 
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Orion Rummler, Them, 31 Oct. 2024
But if the study had found that puberty blockers do indeed improve mental health, would the study still be unpublished?
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 29 Oct. 2024
The singer had gone through puberty and his voice was noticeably lower, and the track list strayed away from his past teen-pop sound, as Bieber played with elements of dance, R&B and hip-hop reflect a newer, more mature chapter in his career.
—Rania Aniftos, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024
Many people have Fordyce spots at birth but don't notice them until puberty starts to enlarge oil glands.
—Carley Millhone, Health, 19 Oct. 2024
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 22 Nov. 2024.
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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