Grownups

/ˈɡroʊnˌʌps/ noun

Definition

Adult people, as opposed to children; used informally to refer to people who are fully developed and mature.

Etymology

Compound of 'grown' (past participle of 'grow') and 'up,' literally meaning 'people who have grown up.'

Kelly Says

Interestingly, 'grownups' is mostly a children's word—once you become one, adults rarely call themselves or each other 'grownups,' preferring 'adults' instead, which shows how language marks the shift from childhood to maturity!

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

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