# adolescence

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌædəˈlɛsəns/ · frequency rank #18,003

## Definitions
1. The transitional period of physical and psychological development between childhood and maturity, beginning at the onset of puberty and with an endpoint defined either legally (at the age of majority, such as 18 in many jurisdictions) or psychocognitively (at various ages, depending on individual experience).

## Etymology
From Middle English adolescence, from Old French adolescence, from Latin adolēscentia, from adolēscēns (“young”); see adolescent.

## Easily confused with
- **adolescent** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adolescence-vs-adolescent)

## Common misspellings (17)
`addolescence`, `adloescence`, `adoelscence`, `adolecsence`, `adolescance`, `adolesccence`, `adolescecne`, `adolescencce`, `adolescenec`, `adolescennce`, `adolescnece`, `adolesecnce`, `adolesscence`, `adollescence`, `adolsecence`, `aodlescence`, `daolescence`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/adolescence