Prepubescent: meaning, definitions and examples
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prepubescent
[ priːˈpjuːbəsənt ]
developmental stage
Prepubescent refers to the period of physical development before the onset of puberty, during which a child has yet to undergo the secondary sexual characteristics and changes that come with adolescence. This stage typically occurs in children aged between 9 and 12 years but can vary depending on the individual.
Synonyms
child, pre-adolescent, youthful.
Examples of usage
- The prepubescent boys exhibited a distinct lack of body hair.
- At a prepubescent age, children often show great curiosity about sexuality.
- The study focused on prepubescent girls' social development.
Translations
Translations of the word "prepubescent" in other languages:
🇵🇹 pré-púbere
🇮🇳 पूर्व किशोर
🇩🇪 vorpubertär
🇮🇩 pra-remaja
🇺🇦 передпідлітковий
🇵🇱 przedpokwitaniowy
🇯🇵 思春期前の
🇫🇷 prépubère
🇪🇸 prepubescente
🇹🇷 ergenlik öncesi
🇰🇷 사춘기 전의
🇸🇦 قبل البلوغ
🇨🇿 předpubertální
🇸🇰 predpubertálny
🇨🇳 青春期前的
🇸🇮 predpubertetno
🇮🇸 fyrir kynþroska
🇰🇿 пубертатқа дейінгі
🇬🇪 პუბლიკურად ადრე
🇦🇿 pubertatdankənar
🇲🇽 prepubescente
Etymology
The term 'prepubescent' is derived from the prefix 'pre-', which comes from Latin, meaning 'before', and 'pubescent', from the Latin 'pubescere', which means 'to reach puberty'. 'Pubescence' itself refers to the period during which a person develops from a juvenile into an adult, especially characterized by the development of secondary sexual characteristics. The use of the term 'prepubescent' can be traced back to the early 20th century, correlating with the growing interest in child psychology and education. In this context, it became important to distinguish between different stages of childhood development, particularly in understanding the social and emotional needs of children who are about to enter puberty. As research in developmental psychology expanded, the term became widely used in both educational and medical settings to discuss the issues surrounding children who have yet to experience the physical and hormonal changes associated with puberty.