adult
gb/ədˈʌlt/ us/ədˈʌlt/
A2
English
~ 1500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
A person who is fully grown
A person who is fully grown and not a child.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is an adult
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'adult' with 'elderly'. 'Adult' means fully grown, not necessarily old.
Synonyms
grown-up (More informal and often used when speaking to or about children.)
Antonyms
child (Refers to a young person who has not yet reached adulthood.)
Collocations
young adult
|responsible adult
|adult life
|adult education
|adult population
Themes
daily life
|law
|family
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She became an adult when she turned eighteen.
- Adults have to pay their own bills.
- As an adult, he takes care of his younger siblings.
- The club is only open to adults.
- Adults often face more responsibilities than children.
Learner examples
- I am an adult now.
- He is an adult and can drive a car.
- Adults work to earn money.
- My sister is an adult.
- The movie is for adults only.
adjective
B1
property
2
Suitable only for mature audiences
Made for grown-ups, not for children, often because it has sex, violence, or strong language.
Usage pattern:
adult [noun]
Common mistake:
Some learners think 'adult' here means 'serious'; actually, it refers to being suitable only for grown-ups.
Synonyms
mature (Often used in media ratings to indicate suitability for adults.)
Antonyms
child-friendly (Designed to be safe and appropriate for children.)
Collocations
adult content
|adult themes
|adult movie
|adult humor
Themes
media
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|communication
Examples
- The website contains adult content and requires age verification.
- This movie has adult themes and is not suitable for children.
- Adult humor may not be understood by younger viewers.
- The book section includes both children's and adult fiction.
Learner examples
- This game has adult content.
- The movie is for an adult audience.
- Adult books are on the top shelf.
- The joke was for adults only.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Fully developed animal or plant
An animal or plant that is fully grown.
Synonyms
mature specimen (More technical term used in biology.)
Antonyms
juvenile (Describes an animal or plant that has not yet reached full development.)
Collocations
adult stage
|adult insect
Themes
biology
|nature
|animals
Examples
- The butterfly emerges as an adult after the pupal stage.
- An adult tree can live for hundreds of years.
- The adult lion hunts alone.
Learner examples
- An adult cat is bigger than a kitten.
- The butterfly is now an adult.
- An adult bird can fly far.
Grammar
Dictionary form
adult
IPA
GB/ədˈʌlt/
US/ədˈʌlt/
Syllables & stress
adult (1 syllable)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: adult
Noun
- Base: adult
- Plural: adults
Word family
Forms
adults
noun
Core family
adulthood
noun B2
Expressions
adult content
1/ədˈʌlt kˈɑntɛnt/
fixed phrase
Media suitable only for adults
Movies, pictures, or websites that are only for grown-ups because they have sexual or violent material.
Examples
- This website contains adult content and requires age verification.
- The TV channel blocks adult content during daytime hours.
responsible adult
3/ɹispˈɑnsɪbəl ədˈʌlt/
fixed phrase
An adult who can be trusted
A grown-up you can trust to take care of people or important things.
Examples
- Children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
- Please leave your contact number in case we need to reach a responsible adult.
young adult
4/jˈʌŋ ədˈʌlt/
fixed phrase
Person aged 18 to 25
A person between about 18 and 25 years old.
Examples
- Young adults often move out of their parents' homes.
- The magazine is aimed at young adults.
adult education
2/ədˈʌlt ˌɛd͡ʒəkˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Education for adults after school age
Classes and learning programs for people who are no longer in school full-time.
Examples
- She enrolled in an adult education course to improve her computer skills.
- She enrolled in an adult education course to improve her skills.
- Adult education programs are available at the community center.
- Adult education centers offer evening classes.