maturation

IPA/ˌmætʃuˈreɪʃn/
KK[mˌætʃɚˈeʃən]IPA/ˌmætʃuˈreɪʃn/

maturation — noun

1. the natural process by which a person's mind and feelings develop toward greater

1.nounB2
Definition

the natural process by which a person's mind and feelings develop toward greater self-awareness, emotional balance, and the ability to deal with difficult situations

Example

The therapist said that Kenji's emotional maturation was visible in how he handled his parents' divorce.

emotional maturation + handle + difficult life event

Mei's maturation into a confident leader surprised everyone who remembered her shy first day at work.

maturation into + noun phrase describing result

Common collocations
  • emotional maturation
  • moral maturation
  • psychological maturation
  • social maturation
  • intellectual maturation
  • personal maturation
  • process of maturation
  • undergo maturation
Synonyms
  • development

    Broader term; covers any gradual unfolding or improvement, not just the final stage

  • growth

    Focuses on increase in capability or understanding; less formal than maturation

Antonyms
  • immaturity

    The state of not having reached full emotional or mental development

Grammar Patterns

the maturation of [person/group]

[person]'s [adjective] maturation

Usage Note

Often paired with adjectives like emotional, moral, psychological, or social to specify the type of development. More formal than the everyday word growing up.

Common Mistakes

The maturation of children happens in school.
Children's emotional and social development happens at school.
Maturation suggests a complete biological or psychological process, not classroom learning specifically.
Her maturation as a person was fast.
She went through a period of rapid personal maturation.
Fast describes moving objects; rapid or quick is more natural for processes.

2. the series of changes a living thing goes through as it grows from an early or y

2.nounB2
Definition

the series of changes a living thing goes through as it grows from an early or young form into its full adult size and physical form

Example

Thiago's bone maturation was slower than average, so the doctor said he still had more growing to do.

collocation: bone / skeletal / sexual maturation

The maturation of a butterfly from a caterpillar takes about two weeks in warm weather.

Common collocations
  • physical maturation
  • sexual maturation
  • bone maturation
  • skeletal maturation
  • growth and maturation
  • rate of maturation
  • complete maturation
Synonyms
  • growth

    Focuses on increase in size; less technical than maturation

  • development

    Broader; covers all progressive changes including those before full maturity

Antonyms
  • degeneration

    The decline or loss of mature physical structure, as in aging or disease

Grammar Patterns

the maturation of [organism/body part]

[body part] maturation

Usage Note

Common in biology, medicine, and child development contexts. May be specified as physical maturation, sexual maturation, or bone maturation. The subject is typically an organism, a species, or a body system.

Common Mistakes

The maturation of the plant was fast because I watered it every day.
The plant grew quickly because I watered it every day.
Maturation refers to the full developmental lifecycle, not just getting bigger from watering.
Her body reached maturation when she turned twelve.
She reached physical maturation in her mid-teens.
Physical maturation is a gradual process, not a sudden event triggered by a birthday.

3. a later stage in the lifecycle of a commercial sector or product type, when rapi

3.nounC1
Definition

a later stage in the lifecycle of a commercial sector or product type, when rapid expansion ends and most possible buyers already have the item or service

Example

The smartphone market reached maturation in developed countries, so companies now compete mainly on price and brand loyalty.

collocation: market reaches maturation

Diego warned investors that the streaming industry was approaching maturation and future profits would be much smaller.

Common collocations
  • market maturation
  • industry maturation
  • product maturation
  • reach maturation
  • approach maturation
  • enter maturation
  • maturation phase
  • maturation stage
  • maturation period
Synonyms
  • stabilization

    Focuses on steadiness rather than lifecycle completion

  • peak

    Emphasizes the highest point before decline, not the plateau itself

Antonyms
  • growth phase

    The early period of rapid market expansion, before maturation

Grammar Patterns

the maturation of [market/industry]

[market/industry] reaches maturation

enter the maturation phase

Usage Note

Used in business and economics. Often combined with reach, approach, or enter. The subject is typically a market, industry, sector, or product category. Contrasts with growth phase (early rapid expansion) and decline phase (falling demand).

Common Mistakes

The company reached maturation in its first year.
The company reached maturation after a decade in the market.
Maturation for a business implies slowing growth, which takes time and cannot happen during an early rapid-expansion phase.
Our product needs maturation to sell better.
Our product needs further development to sell better.
Maturation describes the overall market lifecycle; a single product undergoes development or improvement, not maturation.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

These words all describe processes of change over time, but each emphasizes a different aspect. Development is the broadest term, covering any gradual improvement or unfolding — from career development to child development to software development. Growth focuses on increase in size, quantity, or ability, and is common in both literal (plant growth) and figurative (personal growth) contexts. Ripening is usually literal, referring to fruit becoming ready to eat, though it can be used metaphorically for the final stage of readiness in a project or idea. Maturation, by contrast, emphasizes the completion of a natural, often biological or psychological process — reaching a final, fully-formed state. A teenager goes through social and emotional development throughout adolescence, but maturation suggests that the process is finishing. For example: 'His emotional maturation was clear when he chose to apologize unprompted.' In business contexts, maturation signals the end of rapid market expansion, not simply growth or development.

development ↗growth ↗ripening

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • process of maturation
  • stage of maturation
  • reach maturation
  • undergo maturation
  • go through maturation
  • a sign of maturation
  • the maturation of [something]

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin mātūrātiō, meaning 'a ripening,' derived from mātūrāre ('to ripen, make ripe'). The word entered English in the early 17th century, initially describing the ripening of fruit. Its meaning later extended to biological growth processes and then, by the late 19th century, to psychological and emotional development.