Definition of ADULT

adult

Plural: adults

Noun

  • A fully grown person or animal.
  • a fully developed person from maturity onward
  • any mature animal
  • An animal that is full-grown.
  • A person who has reached the legal age of majority.

Adjective Satellite

  • (of animals) fully developed
    • "an adult animal"
  • designed to arouse lust
    • "adult movies"

Adj

  • Fully grown.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Containing situations or discussions intended primarily for adults, such as serious crime, illicit drug use, extramarital affairs, etc.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Containing alcohol, intended for consumption only by adults.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Containing marijuana, intended for consumption only by adults.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Containing material of an explicit sexual nature; pornographic.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Containing excessive vulgar or profane speech, text or images, intended only for adults.
  • Intended for or restricted to adults rather than children due to size, maturity, knowledge level, judgement, etc.
  • Intended for, or restricted to, those who are not young children.

Verb

  • To behave like an adult.
  • To (cause to) be or become an adult.

Examples

  • adult clothes; adult cereal; an adult documentary
  • adult language; an adult cartoon
  • adult situations; adult discussions
  • Adulting is hard!
  • an adult cookie; adult gummy worms
  • an adult drink; an adult root beer float
  • an adult human, animal, or plant
  • an adult menu; an adult fare
  • an adult movie
  • Children go free, but for those 12 and up, you must purchase an adult ticket.
  • Playing Scrabble requires an adult vocabulary and a child’s love for games.
  • This program contains adult content. Parental discretion is advised.

Origin / Etymology

From French adulte, from Latin adultus (“grown up”), perfect passive participle of adolescō (“I grow up”). Compare adolescent.

Synonyms

big, full-grown, fully grown, grown, grownup, pornographic, X-rated, XXX, XXXX, adult, adultlike, blue, for adults, growed-up, grown up, grown-up, indecent, obscene, postpubescent, salacious

Antonyms

juvenile, child, youngling

Scrabble Score: 6

adult: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
adult: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
adult: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 8

adult: valid Words With Friends Word