pubescent

/pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt/

//pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt// adj

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"pubescent" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“pubescent” has 14 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #44,425. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#44,425
frequency rank, English
46,516
“P” headwords
14
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - At or just after the age of puberty.

Key facts for pubescent
PropertyValue
Headwordpubescent
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#44,425
Misspellings tracked14
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “pubescent” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). pubescent lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 14 spelling variants around pubescent (IPA /pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt/), anadjective. Corpus frequency is #44,425 among 46,516 “P” headwords. Wiktionary lists 2 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 14 likely wrong-spelling variants for pubescent, with forms such as "pbuescent", "ppubescent", and "pubbescent". Every one of these variants traces to a single-character edit -- an added or dropped letter, a swapped consonant, or a vowel swap -- the kind of slip a spell-checker is built to catch. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, since nothing in our dataset looks or sounds close enough to cause mix-ups.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle French pubescent, from Latin pubescens (“to become hairy, downy, or an adult”). The correct English form is pubescent, spelled P-U-B-E-S-C-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    At or just after the age of puberty.
  2. 2
    Covered with down or fine hairs.

Etymology

From Middle French pubescent, from Latin pubescens (“to become hairy, downy, or an adult”).

Synonyms

nuptialpubescent

Antonyms

presexual

This word in other languages

pubescente(Español)pubère(Français)geschlechtsreif(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • pbuescent
  • ppubescent
  • pubbescent
  • pubecsent
  • pubesccent
  • pubescennt
  • pubescentt
  • pubescetn
  • pubescnet
  • pubesecnt
  • pubesscent
  • pubsecent
  • puebscent
  • upbescent

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of pubescent - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

pbuescent2ppubescent1pubbescent1pubecsent2pubesccent1pubescennt1pubescentt1pubescetn2
Edit distance from "pubescent"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "pubescent"?
"pubescent" is spelled P-U-B-E-S-C-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt/.
What does "pubescent" mean?
As an adjective, "pubescent" means: At or just after the age of puberty.
What are common misspellings of "pubescent"?
Common misspellings include "pbuescent", "ppubescent", "pubbescent", "pubecsent", "pubesccent". The correct spelling is "pubescent".
How do you pronounce "pubescent"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "pubescent" is /pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "pubescent"?
From Middle French pubescent, from Latin pubescens (“to become hairy, downy, or an adult”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “pubescent”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is P-U-B-E-S-C-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /pjʊˈbɛs(ə)nt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list