puberty
noun
pu·ber·ty
ˈpyü-bər-tē 
1
: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the reproductive organs (such as the testes and ovaries), development of secondary sex characteristics (such as male facial hair growth and female breast development), and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female
2
: the age at which puberty occurs often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls
Examples of puberty in a Sentence
He reached puberty later than most of his classmates.
Recent Examples on the Web
That has included barring Medicaid coverage for treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers and preventing the treatments for minors.
—
Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2024
Listen to this article TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge Wednesday blocked a new Biden administration health-care rule that would clash with Florida’s attempts to restrict treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers for transgender people.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
In fact, hormone therapies have been used to treat gender dysphoria since the 1960s, and puberty blockers have been prescribed to young people, mostly cis children experiencing early puberty, for more than 40 years.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 28 June 2024
The details: Transgender young people, their families and medical providers asked the high court last fall to reverse a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit that upheld a law prohibiting transgender minors in Tennessee from accessing puberty blockers and hormones.
—Mckenzie Beard, Washington Post, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for puberty 
Jim Saunders, Orlando Sentinel, 4 July 2024
Listen to this article TALLAHASSEE — A federal judge Wednesday blocked a new Biden administration health-care rule that would clash with Florida’s attempts to restrict treatments such as hormone therapy and puberty blockers for transgender people.
—Jim Saunders, Sun Sentinel, 4 July 2024
In fact, hormone therapies have been used to treat gender dysphoria since the 1960s, and puberty blockers have been prescribed to young people, mostly cis children experiencing early puberty, for more than 40 years.
—Samantha Riedel, Them, 28 June 2024
The details: Transgender young people, their families and medical providers asked the high court last fall to reverse a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit that upheld a law prohibiting transgender minors in Tennessee from accessing puberty blockers and hormones.
—Mckenzie Beard, Washington Post, 25 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for puberty
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'puberty.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near puberty
Cite this Entry
“Puberty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/puberty. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
puberty
noun
pu·ber·ty
pyü-bərt-ē
1
: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually that is brought on by the production of sex hormones and the maturing of the sex organs (as the testes and ovaries) and is marked by the development of secondary sex characteristics (as male facial hair growth and female breast development) and by the occurrence of the first menstruation in the female
2
: the age at which puberty occurs often defined legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls
Medical Definition
puberty
noun
pu·ber·ty
ˈpyü-bərt-ē
plural puberties
1
: the condition of being or the period of becoming first capable of reproducing sexually marked by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics, and in humans and the higher primates by the first occurrence of menstruation in the female
2
: the age at which puberty occurs being typically between 13 and 16 years in boys and 11 and 14 in girls and often construed legally as 14 in boys and 12 in girls
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