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nonadult

4.6
A person under the legal age of adulthood
  • noun
  • /ˌnɒnˈædʌlt/
translation icon : menor
  • A nonadult cannot sign a contract.

Examples

  • A nonadult needs parental consent to join certain activities.

  • The law protects nonadults from exploitation.

  • The movie is not suitable for nonadults due to its mature content.

  • Only nonadult members under eighteen are eligible for reduced program fees this summer.

  • The law protects nonadults from working in hazardous environments.

  • The law protects nonadults from exploitation in various situations.

  • Only nonadult participants are allowed to attend the summer camp.

Synonyms

juvenile
vsnonadult
79 3.9

A young person who is not yet an adult

refers specifically to legal age rather than growth or youthfulness
minor
vsnonadult
73 2.1

Not yet an adult according to the law

is a neutral alternative phrased without the single word legal label
unadult
vsnonadult
  • Informal
9.9

A person who is not legally an adult, usually a child

focuses only on legal age rather than maturity

Antonyms

1.0

A person who is fully grown and no longer a child

Surface Forms

nonadult singular
nonadults plural

Morphology

nonadult = adult (transparent) = non + adult

The noun sense is formed by negating the noun 'adult' with the productive prefix 'non-', yielding 'a person who is not an adult' which is directly interpretable.

Etymology

Nonadult breaks into non- 'not' and adult, so as a noun it means a person who is 'not yet an adult' and is like a 'minor' under the law.