Editing Adult (section)

{{Short description|Being that is fully grown}}
{{redirect|Adulthood|other uses|Adult (disambiguation)|and|Adulthood (disambiguation)}}
[[File:ComputerHotline - Danaus plexippus (by) (3).jpg|thumb|Adult moths and butterflies are easily distinguished from their [[caterpillar]]s.]]
An '''adult''' is an [[animal]] that has reached [[Developmental biology|full growth]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adult organism |url=https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols/ontologies/uberon/terms?iri=http%3A%2F%2Fpurl.obolibrary.org%2Fobo%2FUBERON_0007023 |access-date=2022-11-05 |archive-date=2022-11-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105061316/https://www.ebi.ac.uk/ols/ontologies/uberon/terms?iri=http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/UBERON_0007023 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[biological]] definition of the word means an animal reaching [[sexual maturity]] and thus capable of [[reproduction]]. In the human context, the term ''adult'' has meanings associated with [[social]] and [[law|legal]] concepts. In contrast to a non-adult or "[[minor (law)|minor]]", a '''legal adult''' is a [[person]] who has attained the [[age of majority]] and is therefore regarded as independent, [[self-sufficient]], and [[:wikt:responsible|responsible]]. They may also be regarded as "majors". The typical age of attaining legal adulthood is 18 although definition may vary by legal rights, country, and psychological development.

Human adulthood encompasses [[Adult development|psychological adult development]]. Definitions of adulthood are often inconsistent and contradictory; a person may be biologically an adult, and have adult behavior, but still be treated as a [[child]] if they are under the legal age of majority. Conversely, one may legally be an adult but possess none of the [[Maturity (psychological)|maturity]] and responsibility that may define an adult character.

In different cultures, there are events that relate passing from being a child to becoming an adult or [[coming of age]]. This often encompasses passing a series of tests to demonstrate that a person is prepared for adulthood, or reaching a specified age, sometimes in conjunction with demonstrating preparation. Most modern societies determine legal adulthood based on reaching a legally specified age without requiring a demonstration of physical maturity or preparation for adulthood.