"Adulthood" redirects here. For other uses, see Adult (disambiguation) and Adulthood (disambiguation).
An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth.[1] The biological definition of the word means an animal reaching sexual maturity and thus capable of reproduction. In the human context, the term adult has meanings associated with social and legal concepts. In contrast to a non-adult or "minor", a legal adult is a person who has attained the age of majority and is therefore regarded as independent, self-sufficient, and responsible. They may also be regarded as a "major". The typical age of attaining legal adulthood is 18, although definition may vary by legal rights, country, and psychological development.
Human adulthood encompasses psychological adult development. Definitions of adulthood are often inconsistent and contradictory; a person may be biologically an adult, and have adult behavior, but still be treated as a child if they are under the legal age of majority. Conversely, one may legally be an adult but possess none of the maturity and responsibility that may define an adult character.
In different cultures, there are events that relate passing from being a child to becoming an adult or coming of age. This often encompasses the passing a series of tests to demonstrate that a person is prepared for adulthood, or reaching a specified age, sometimes in conjunction with demonstrating preparation. Most modern societies determine legal adulthood based on reaching a legally specified age without requiring a demonstration of physical maturity or preparation for adulthood.
^"Adult organism". Archived from the original on 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2022-11-05.
An adult is a human or other animal that has reached full growth. The biological definition of the word means an animal reaching sexual maturity and thus...
Adult Swim (stylized as [adult swim] since 2003, and also abbreviated as [as]) is an American programming block broadcast by the American basic cable channel...
Adult contemporary music (AC) is a form of radio-played popular music, ranging from 1960s vocal and 1970s soft rock music to predominantly ballad-heavy...
Young adult literature (YA) is typically written for readers aged 12 to 18, and includes most of the themes found in adult fiction, such friendship, substance...
Adult FriendFinder (AFF) is an internet-based, adult-oriented social networking service, online dating service and swinger personals community website...
Adultism is the abuse of the power that adults have over children. It has been defined as "the power adults have over children", "prejudice and accompanying...
In medicine and the social sciences, a young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence, sometimes with some overlap. Definitions...
Adult child may refer to: An offspring that has reached the age of majority Vulnerable adult, an adult that lacks basic life skills Adult/Child, an unreleased...
Look up adulting in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Adulting is a neologism for growing up that became popular on English-speaking social media in the...
Adult animation, also known as mature animation, and infrequently as adult-oriented animation, is any type of animated motion work that is catered specifically...
Adult education, distinct from child education, is a practice in which adults engage in systematic and sustained self-educating activities in order to...
Adult chat may refer to: Phone sex, sexually explicit phone conversations Adult chat (television) channels and programs Adult video chat with webcam models...
The Adult Pop Airplay (formerly known as Adult Pop Songs and Adult Top 40) chart is published weekly by Billboard magazine and ranks "the most popular...
Adult Beginners is a 2014 American comedy drama film directed by Ross Katz and written by Jeff Cox and Liz Flahive based on a story by Nick Kroll. The...
A Disney adult is an adult who is a devout fan of The Walt Disney Company. Common hobbies of Disney adults include visiting Disney theme parks, collecting...
aimed at teenagers" in contrast to rock music as "album-based music for adults". Pop music continuously evolves along with the term's definition. According...
This is a list of adult channels that feature adult content, in the sense of erotica or pornography. Allure Channel – Thailand Brazzers TV – US (formerly...
Adult World is a 2013 American comedy-drama film directed by Scott Coffey and written by Andy Cochran. The film stars Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, and John...
An adult high school or adult school is a high school facility designed for adult education. It is intended for adults who have not completed high school...
Adult alternative may refer to: Adult album alternative, a radio format Modern adult contemporary, a radio format Smooth jazz, a radio format This disambiguation...
In English law, an appropriate adult is a parent, guardian or social worker; or if no person matching this is available, any responsible person over 18...
Adult Material is a four-part British drama television series concerning a woman's life working in the adult film industry. The show starred Hayley Squires...
Adult Trainee (Korean: 어른연습생) is a South Korean web series directed by Yoo Hak-chan and Jeong Hyeong-gun, starring Ryu Ui-hyun, Cho Mi-yeon, Jo Yoo-jung...
adult may refer to: Single person Bachelor Single adult (LDS Church) This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Single adult....