Cool MateAdult vs Mature
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Adult
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Mature
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Most common: Adult
| Adult | Mature | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈædʌlt//əˈdʌlt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈdʌlt//ˈædʌlt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //məˈtjʊə//🇺🇸 //məˈtʃʊr// |
| Meaning | A grown-up person. | Fully grown or developed. |
| Example | Children must be accompanied by an adult. | He is a very mature individual for his age. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | noun | adjective |
| Collocations | young, single, consenting, education, literacy, population | mature audience, mature relationship, mature decisions, mature tree, mature products |
| Antonyms | child, teenager | immature, undeveloped, young |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'adulthood' which refers to the state of being an adult., Incorrectly used as an adjective (e.g., 'adult movie' is appropriate, but not 'adult person'). | Confused with 'immature' for opposites., Using 'mature' for young people or animals., Omitting the context when 'mature' implies wisdom. |
| Usage notes | Use 'adult' when talking about someone who is fully grown and not a child. It's appropriate in everyday conversation and formal contexts, but may not be used when discussing young individuals still in school. | Use 'mature' to describe fully developed people, animals, or things. Avoid using it to describe young subjects. |
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Frequently asked questions: Adult vs Mature
What's the difference between Adult and Mature?
Adult: A grown-up person. Mature: Fully grown or developed.
Which is more common: Adult and Mature?
Adult is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Adult and Mature?
Mature is the highest level, at C1, on the CEFR scale.
Are Adult and Mature the same CEFR level?
Adult: A1, Mature: C1 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Adult and Mature?
Adult: noun, Mature: adjective.
Can you show an example of each?
Adult: Children must be accompanied by an adult. Mature: He is a very mature individual for his age.
Can I use Adult and Mature interchangeably?
Not always. Adult and Mature are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.