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Juvenile vs Adolescent - What's the difference?

juvenile | adolescent |

As adjectives the difference between juvenile and adolescent

is that juvenile is young; not fully developed while adolescent is characteristic of, or relating to, or undergoing adolescence; immature.

As nouns the difference between juvenile and adolescent

is that juvenile is a prepubescent child while adolescent is a teenager; a juvenile after puberty.

juvenile

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • young; not fully developed
  • characteristic of youth or immaturity; childish

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • a prepubescent child
  • a person not legally of age, or who is younger than may be charged with an offence
  • an animal that is not sexually mature
  • an actor playing a child's role

    • Derived terms

    * (not of legal age) juvenile court, juvenile delinquent, juvenile detention center, juvenile hall

    adolescent

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Characteristic]] of, or relating to, or [[undergo, undergoing adolescence; immature.
  • * Cowper
    • Schools, unless discipline were doubly strong, / Detain their adolescent charge too long.

    Related terms

    * adolescence * adult

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A teenager; a juvenile after puberty.

    • External links

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