adultoid

Noun

adultoid (plural adultoids)

1. A premature adult form of an insect.
   • An adultoid is a mature alate that remains in the colony, sheds its wings and becomes a functional reproductive.2002, V. M. Uys, A guide to the termite genera of Southern Africa, page 6
2. An adolescent who engages in activities that symbolize adult status.
   • Greenberger and Steinberg coined the term “adultoid” to describe adolescents who engage in activities, often “risky” activities, that symbolize adult status (e.g., smoking, drinking, staying out late, having sex).2005, Francis J. Turner, Social Work Diagnosis in Contemporary Practice, page 29
   • This link between an older subjective age and engagement in problem behaviors supports the existence of adultoid or pseudomature adolescents who have been described in theoretical literature, but until recently, remained unidentified empirically.2011, Margaret Kerr, Understanding Girls' Problem Behavior