teen-age

A teen-age girl reads a book in her cozy bedroom.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Relating to individuals aged 13 to 19: "teen-age" describes the period, characteristics, or items associated with people in their teenage years, typically between thirteen and nineteen years old.
   • Characteristic of adolescence: Pertaining to the developmental stage of adolescence, including typical behaviors, interests, or styles.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She bought a new teen-age magazine at the store. (A magazine aimed at readers aged 13 to 19.)
  • The movie explores the challenges of teen-age relationships. (Relationships typical among adolescents.)
  • He wore teen-age clothing that was popular in the 1990s. (Clothing styles designed for teenagers.)

Advanced Usage

• "teen-age years": the period of life between childhood and adulthood, specifically ages 13–19.

  • During her teen-age years, she developed a passion for music. (The adolescent period of her life.)

• "teen-age angst": the emotional turmoil or anxiety often associated with adolescence.

  • The novel captures the raw emotions of teen-age angst. (Adolescent emotional distress.)

Variants and Related Words

• Teenager (n): a person between the ages of 13 and 19.

  • The teenager spent hours on his homework. (A young person in the teen-age range.)

• Teen (adj/n): a shortened form of "teen-age" or "teenager."

  • She is a teen idol for many young fans. (A popular figure among teenagers.)

• Teenaged (adj): an alternative spelling of "teen-age," meaning the same.

  • The teenaged girl attended the concert. (A girl in her teenage years.)

Synonyms

• Adolescent: relating to the period between childhood and adulthood.

  • Adolescent behavior can be unpredictable. (Behavior typical of teenagers.)

• Youthful: characteristic of young people, especially in energy or appearance.

  • Her youthful enthusiasm was infectious. (Energetic like a young person.)

• Juvenile: often used to describe young people, but can also imply immaturity.

  • The juvenile delinquent was sent to a special school. (A young person, usually under 18.)

Related Idioms

• Teen-age dream: a romantic fantasy or ideal often associated with adolescence.

  • She thought her boyfriend was a teen-age dream come true. (A perfect romantic partner in teenage imagination.)

• Act your age, not your shoe size: a humorous phrase urging someone to behave maturely, often used with teenagers.

  • Stop fooling around and act your age, not your shoe size. (Behave appropriately for your age.)