noun
- the period of childhood before puberty begins
Usage: medical; developmental
Examples
- During prepuberty, children grow at a steady but slower rate than they will during their growth spurt.
- The study examined bone density changes from prepuberty through adolescence.
- Prepuberty is characterized by relatively stable hormone levels.
- Most children in prepuberty have not yet developed secondary sexual characteristics.
- The research focused on cognitive development during prepuberty.
- Nutritional needs differ between prepuberty and the teenage years.