transition to adulthood
noun phraseUK /trænˈzɪʃən tə ˈædʌlthʊd/
US /trænˈzɪʃən tə əˈdʌlthʊd/
The time when a young person grows up and starts to live like an adult.
Moving out and getting a job is a big part of the transition to adulthood.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. The period when a young animal becomes fully grown and able to live on its own.
For many birds, the transition to adulthood happens within a single year.
3. The process of a young adult taking on adult roles such as work, marriage, and caring for others.
In some cultures, the transition to adulthood is marked by a special ceremony.
4. The stage of life between being a teenager and being fully independent.
Scholars often study how the transition to adulthood has become longer in modern societies.