Growingupness

/ˈɡroʊɪŋ.ʌp.nəs/ noun

Definition

The state, process, or quality of growing up; the condition of maturation and development into adulthood.

Etymology

From growing up (phrasal verb of grow) plus the nominalizing suffix -ness, creating a noun meaning 'the condition of growing up.' This is a relatively modern or informal coinage.

Kelly Says

This word probably appears most in young adult literature and psychology—turning the experience 'growing up' into an abstract noun 'growingupness' lets writers discuss it as a shared human condition rather than individual experience.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.