What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
teenage
Example
She's a typical teenage girl, always on her phone. [teenage: adjective]
Example
I spent my teenage years playing sports and hanging out with friends. [teenage: noun]
adolescent
Example
Adolescents often experience mood swings and hormonal changes. [adolescent: adjective]
Example
The book explores the challenges of adolescence and growing up. [adolescence: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Teenage is more commonly used in everyday language, especially in informal contexts such as social media, music, and movies. Adolescent is more commonly used in academic or professional contexts, such as psychology, education, and social sciences.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between teenage and adolescent?
Adolescent is generally considered more formal and academic than teenage, which has a more colloquial and informal connotation. However, both words can be used in various formality levels depending on the context and audience.
