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maturity

/məˈtʃʌrɪɾi/
/məˈtʃʊərɪti/
IPA guide

Other forms: maturities

When something reaches its full level of development, it has achieved maturity. Easy enough when you're a perfectly ripe peach. Maturity in humans is not so easy to accomplish or achieve.

Some people might be physically mature, which is to say that they are fully physically grown, but don't yet exhibit signs of emotional maturity — such as a willingness to accept responsibility, or maintain poise in serious situations — for a long time afterward.

Definitions of maturity
  1. noun
    the period of time in your life after your physical growth has stopped and you are fully developed
    synonyms: adulthood
    see moresee less
    types:
    prime, prime of life
    the time of maturity when power and vigor are greatest
    type of:
    time of life
    a period of time during which a person is normally in a particular life state
  2. noun
    state of being mature; full development
    synonyms: matureness
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    immaturity
    the state of not having reached maturity
    types:
    adulthood
    the state (and responsibilities) of a person who has attained maturity
    ripeness
    the state of being ripe
    youth
    early maturity; the state of being young or immature or inexperienced
    post-maturity, post-menopause
    the state in which women have stopped ovulating
    manhood
    the state of being a man; manly qualities
    parentage, parenthood
    the state of being a parent
    muliebrity, womanhood
    the state of being an adult woman
    type of:
    state
    the way something is with respect to its main attributes
  3. noun
    the behavior or manner expected of or appropriate to an adult
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    immaturity
    inappropriately childish behavior or manner
    type of:
    behavior, behaviour, conduct, demeanor, demeanour, deportment
    (behavioral attributes) the way a person behaves toward other people
  4. noun
    the date on which an obligation must be repaid
    synonyms: due date, maturity date
    see moresee less
    type of:
    date, day of the month
    the specified day of the month
Pronunciation
US
/məˈtʃʌrɪɾi/
UK
/məˈtʃʊərɪti/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘maturity'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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