adolescent

this term for the period of development between youth and maturity, or from the onset of puberty to maturity, is not a specific span of years and its characteristics vary enormously from individual to individual. In addition to being vague, it has negative connotations because of its use in terms like "adolescent behavior" and because it defines someone solely in terms of age. Either refer to a specific age ("Ali, 16"), or use young person/people, young adult, young man/young woman. "The teen years" is preferable to "adolescence." See also ageism, children, juvenile, teen/teenager, youth.