Mature vs. Young: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on September 27, 2023
Mature refers to being fully grown or developed, while Young denotes being in an early stage of life or development.
Key Differences
Mature and Young are words that primarily juxtapose stages of development and age. Mature typically indicates something or someone that has reached its full development or growth. It connotes a sense of completeness and fulfillment. Young, on the contrary, points to the early stages of development or life, representing something still in its growth phase.
When we talk about a mature individual, we often reference not just age but also emotional, mental, or experiential growth. A person might be young in age but mature in thoughts and decisions. Conversely, a person can be mature in age but may have a young spirit or mindset.
In plants and animals, mature implies that the organism has reached its reproductive stage. A mature plant might bear fruits, while a mature animal is capable of reproduction. Young plants and animals, meanwhile, are in their nascent stages, showing potential for growth but not yet fully developed.
In contexts beyond age and growth, both words carry additional connotations. A mature market in business is saturated and sees slower growth, whereas a young market is burgeoning and holds much potential. A mature approach to a problem suggests wisdom and experience, while a young approach might indicate novelty and innovation.
Comparison Chart
Age or Stage
Advanced age or stage.
Early age or stage.
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Development
Fully grown or developed.
Not fully developed.
Experience
Often associated with more experience.
Generally indicates less experience.
Mindset
Connotes wisdom or thoughtfulness.
Suggests freshness or novelty.
Usage beyond Age
Can describe markets, ideas, etc.
Often used to describe markets, trends, etc.
Mature and Young Definitions
Mature
Relating to a saturated market with slow growth.
It's a mature market with few new entrants.
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Young
Being in an early period of life, development, or growth.
Mature
Having attained a specified age.
He's mature for his age.
Young
Having the freshness or vigor of youth.
He has a young spirit.
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development
A mature cell.
Young
Newly begun or formed; not advanced
A young biotech company.
Mature
Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe
A mature cheese.
Young
Relating to, typical of, or suggestive of youth or early life
He is young for his age.
Mature
Having or showing characteristics, such as patience and prudence, considered typical of well-balanced adulthood
Mature for her age.
Young
Lacking experience; immature
A young hand at plowing.
Mature
Suitable or intended for adults
Mature subject matter.
Young
Being the junior of two people having the same name.
Mature
Composed of adults
A mature audience.
Young
(Geology) Being of an early stage in a geologic cycle. Used of bodies of water and land formations.
Mature
Worked out fully by the mind; considered
A mature plan of action.
Young
Young persons considered as a group; youth
Entertainment for the young.
Mature
Having reached the limit of its time; due
A mature bond.
Young
Offspring; brood
A lioness with her young.
Mature
No longer subject to great expansion or development. Used of an industry, market, or product.
Young
In the early part of growth or life; born not long ago.
A lamb is a young sheep;
These picture books are for young readers
Mature
(Geology) Having reached maximum development of form. Used of streams and landforms.
Young
At an early stage of existence or development; having recently come into existence.
The age of space travel is still young;
A young business
Mature
To bring to full development; ripen.
Young
(Not) advanced in age; (far towards or) at a specified stage of existence or age.
How young is your dog?
Her grandmother turned 70 years young last month.
Mature
To work out fully in the mind
"able to digest and mature my thoughts for my own mind only" (John Stuart Mill).
Young
Junior (of two related people with the same name).
Mature
To evolve toward or reach full development
The child's judgment matures as she grows older.
Young
(of a decade of life) Early.
Mature
To become due. Used of notes and bonds.
Young
Youthful; having the look or qualities of a young person.
My grandmother is a very active woman and is quite young for her age.
Mature
Fully developed; grown up in terms of physical appearance, behaviour or thinking; ripe.
She is quite mature for her age.
The excellent mature eggplants grown in the garden plot are quickly being being picked up by family and friends.
Young
Of or belonging to the early part of life.
The cynical world soon shattered my young dreams.
Mature
Brought to a state of complete readiness.
A mature plan
Young
(obsolete) Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
Mature
Profound; careful.
The headmaster decided to expel the boy after a mature consideration.
Young
(often as if a plural noun) Offspring, especially the immature offspring of animals.
The lion caught a gnu to feed its young.
The lion's young are curious about the world around them.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Young
To become or seem to become younger.
Mature
Suitable for adults only, due to sexual themes, violence, etc.
Mature content
Young
To cause to appear younger.
Mature
(intransitive) To proceed toward maturity: full development or completion (either of concrete or of abstract things, e.g. plans, judgments, qualities).
Young
(geology) To exhibit younging.
Mature
To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
Young
Not long born; still in the first part of life; not yet arrived at adolescence, maturity, or age; not old; juvenile; - said of animals; as, a young child; a young man; a young fawn.
For he so young and tender was of age.
"Whom the gods love, die young," has been too long carelessly said; . . . whom the gods love, live young forever.
Mature
(transitive) To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion.
Young
Being in the first part, pr period, of growth; as, a young plant; a young tree.
While the fears of the people were young.
Mature
(transitive) To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature.
Young
Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
Mature
To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
Young
The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively.
[The egg] bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosedTheir callow young.
Mature
(transitive) To make (someone) mature.
Young
Any immature animal
Mature
To reach the date when payment is due.
When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.
Young
United States film and television actress (1913-2000)
Mature
Brought by natural process to completeness of growth and development; fitted by growth and development for any function, action, or state, appropriate to its kind; full-grown; ripe.
Now is love mature in ear.
How shall I meet, or how accost, the sage,Unskilled in speech, nor yet mature of age?
Young
United States civil rights leader (1921-1971)
Mature
Completely worked out; fully digested or prepared; ready for action; made ready for destined application or use; perfected; as, a mature plan.
This lies glowing, . . . and is almost mature for the violent breaking out.
Young
British physicist and Egyptologist; he revived the wave theory of light and proposed a three-component theory of color vision; he also played an important role in deciphering the hieroglyphics on the Rosetta Stone (1773-1829)
Mature
Of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years.
Young
United States jazz tenor saxophonist (1909-1959)
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Young
English poet (1683-1765)
Mature
To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans.
Young
United States baseball player and famous pitcher (1867-1955)
Mature
To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience.
Young
United States religious leader of the Mormon Church after the assassination of Joseph Smith; he led the Mormon exodus from Illinois to Salt Lake City, Utah (1801-1877)
Mature
Hence, to become due, as a note.
Young
Young people collectively;
Rock music appeals to the young
Youth everywhere rises in revolt
Mature
Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast
Young
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth;
Young people
Mature
Develop and work out fully in one's mind;
I need to mature my thoughts
Young
(of crops) harvested at an early stage of development; before complete maturity;
New potatoes
Young corn
Mature
Become due for repayment;
These bonds mature in 2005
Young
Being in the first or early stage of life.
She's a young child, only five years old.
Mature
Cause to ripen or develop fully;
The sun ripens the fruit
Age matures a good wine
Young
New or fresh in relation to something established.
It's a young technology, still in its infancy.
Mature
Grow old or older;
She aged gracefully
We age every day--what a depressing thought!
Young men senesce
Young
The offspring of animals or plants.
The fox and her young were spotted near the den.
Mature
Cause to ripen and discharge pus;
The oil suppurates the pustules
Mature
Characteristic of maturity;
Mature for her age
Mature
Fully considered and perfected;
Mature plans
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development;
A mature cell
Mature
Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used;
Ripe peaches
Full-bodies mature wines
Mature
(of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
Mature
Having reached full growth or development.
The mature oak tree stood tall in the yard.
Mature
Showing the mental and emotional qualities of an adult.
She has a mature perspective on life.
Mature
Of, relating to, or being an investment with a due date.
The bond will mature in five years.
FAQs
Being in the first or early stage of life.
She's a young child, only five years old.
The offspring of animals or plants.
The fox and her young were spotted near the den.
Having the freshness or vigor of youth.
He has a young spirit.
New or fresh in relation to something established.
It's a young technology, still in its infancy.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
