Adolescence

Two adolescents listening to music using earphones

Part of a series on
Human growth and development
Stages
Gamete Zygote Embryo Fetus Infant Toddler Child Preadolescent Adolescent Emerging and early adulthood Young adult Middle adult Old adult Dying
Biological milestones
Fertilization Pregnancy Childbirth Walking Language acquisition Puberty Menopause Ageing Death
Development and psychology
Pre- and perinatal Infant and child Nature versus nurture Adolescent Youth Young adult Adult Maturity
Developmental stage theories
Attachment Ecological Psychosocial Psychosexual development Moral Cognitive Cultural-historical Evolutionary
Psychology portal
v t e

Adolescence (from Latin adolescere 'to mature') is a transitional stage of physical and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to adulthood (typically corresponding to the age of majority).^[1][2] Adolescence is usually associated with the teenage years,^[3][4] but its physical, psychological or cultural expressions may begin earlier or end later. Puberty now typically begins during preadolescence, particularly in females.^[4][5] Physical growth (particularly in males) and cognitive development can extend past the teens. Age provides only a rough marker of adolescence, and scholars have not agreed upon a precise definition. Some definitions start as early as 10 and end as late as 25 or 26.^[6] The World Health Organization definition officially designates an adolescent as someone between the ages of 10 and 19.^[7]