teen-ager

A teen-ager reads a book in the park.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A young person between the ages of 13 and 19: "teen-ager" refers to an individual in the stage of adolescence, typically from thirteen to nineteen years old, inclusive.
   • A person in their teenage years: This term emphasizes the developmental period between childhood and adulthood.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The teen-ager spent most of her free time studying for exams. (A young person aged 13–19 focused on academic work.)
  • Many teen-agers enjoy socializing with friends after school. (Adolescents commonly seek peer interaction.)
  • As a teen-ager, he learned to drive and got his first part-time job. (A person in the adolescent stage gaining new responsibilities.)

Advanced Usage

• "teen-ager" as a demographic label: In marketing, education, or sociology, "teen-ager" is used to describe a specific age group with distinct behaviors and needs.

  • Advertisers often target the teen-ager market with trend-driven products. (The term refers to consumers aged 13–19.)

• "teen-ager" in legal or policy contexts: Sometimes used to define age-based restrictions or rights.

  • The law requires a teen-ager to have parental consent for certain medical procedures. (A person aged 13–19 needing adult approval.)

Variants and Related Words

• Teenage (adj): relating to or characteristic of a teen-ager.

  • She bought teenage clothing for her daughter. (Clothing designed for adolescents.)

• Teen (n, informal): a shortened form of "teen-ager".

  • The teen listened to loud music in his room. (An informal synonym for teen-ager.)

• Teenaged (adj): being a teen-ager; in the teenage years.

  • The teenaged boy had a rebellious phase. (Referring to a person aged 13–19.)

Synonyms

• Adolescent: a young person in the process of developing from a child into an adult.

  • The adolescent struggled with peer pressure. (A synonym for teen-ager, often used in formal contexts.)

• Youth: a young person, typically used for those in their teens or early twenties.

  • The youth volunteered at the community center. (A broader term that includes teen-agers.)

Phrasal Verbs (Not applicable: "teen-ager" is a noun and does not form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms

• "Teen-ager at heart": describing an adult who behaves or thinks like a teen-ager.

  • Even at fifty, he was a teen-ager at heart, loving video games and skateboarding. (An adult with youthful attitudes.)

• "The awkward teen-ager phase": referring to the often socially uncomfortable period of adolescence.

  • She looked back on her awkward teen-ager phase with a mixture of embarrassment and nostalgia. (The challenging teenage years.)