Mature vs. Young — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 12, 2023
Mature refers to being fully developed in body or mind, while Young denotes an early stage of life or growth.
Difference Between Mature and Young
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Mature and Young are terms that often refer to different stages in the life cycle of an organism. While Mature signifies full development, whether in body, mind, or both, Young pertains to an early or initial stage of development.
In human context, a Mature individual has typically reached an advanced age, gained experience, and possesses a more refined judgment. Conversely, a Young individual is in the earlier phases of life, with lesser experience and a less refined perspective.
When considering plants, a Mature tree has reached its peak in terms of growth and is capable of bearing fruit, while a Young tree is still growing and might not yet have the ability to produce fruit.
In the realm of financial instruments, a Mature bond is one that is due for payment, whereas a Young bond is earlier in its lifecycle and has more time before maturation.
Understanding the nuances between Mature and Young can be critical in various fields, from biology to finance, where the stage of development or progress plays a pivotal role.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Fully developed
At an early stage of life or growth
Associated Age
Advanced age
Earlier phases of life
Experience
Possesses more experience
Lesser experience
Developmental Stage (Plants)
Capable of bearing fruit
Still growing, might not bear fruit
Financial Instruments
Due for payment or has reached its term
Earlier in its lifecycle, far from maturation
Compare with Definitions
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development
A mature cell.
Young
Being in an early stage of life, growth, or development.
The Young calf stayed close to its mother.
Mature
Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe
A mature cheese.
Young
Lacking experience.
He's a Young lawyer, fresh out of law school.
Mature
Having or showing characteristics, such as patience and prudence, considered typical of well-balanced adulthood
Mature for her age.
Young
Characteristic of youth.
Her Young spirit was infectious.
Mature
Suitable or intended for adults
Mature subject matter.
Young
Having been established or founded relatively recently.
A Young company with innovative ideas.
Mature
Composed of adults
A mature audience.
Young
Of, relating to, or representing the younger branch or generation.
The Young generation demands change.
Mature
Worked out fully by the mind; considered
A mature plan of action.
Young
Having lived or existed for only a short time
A young girl
Young tender mint leaves
The young are amazingly resilient
Mature
Having reached the limit of its time; due
A mature bond.
Young
Used to denote the younger of two people of the same name
Pitt the Younger
Mature
No longer subject to great expansion or development. Used of an industry, market, or product.
Young
Offspring, especially of an animal before or soon after birth
Many grebes carry their young on their backs
Mature
(Geology) Having reached maximum development of form. Used of streams and landforms.
Young
Being in an early period of life, development, or growth.
Mature
To bring to full development; ripen.
Young
Newly begun or formed; not advanced
A young biotech company.
Mature
To work out fully in the mind
"able to digest and mature my thoughts for my own mind only" (John Stuart Mill).
Young
Relating to, typical of, or suggestive of youth or early life
He is young for his age.
Mature
To evolve toward or reach full development
The child's judgment matures as she grows older.
Young
Lacking experience; immature
A young hand at plowing.
Mature
To become due. Used of notes and bonds.
Young
Being the junior of two people having the same name.
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
(Geology) Being of an early stage in a geologic cycle. Used of bodies of water and land formations.
Mature
Brought to a state of complete readiness.
A mature plan
Young
Young persons considered as a group; youth
Entertainment for the young.
Mature
Profound; careful.
The headmaster decided to expel the boy after a mature consideration.
Young
Offspring; brood
A lioness with her young.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
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
(intransitive) To proceed toward maturity: full development or completion (either of concrete or of abstract things, e.g. plans, judgments, qualities).
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 attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
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
(transitive) To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion.
Young
Junior (of two related people with the same name).
Mature
(transitive) To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature.
Young
(of a decade of life) Early.
Mature
To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
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
(transitive) To make (someone) mature.
Young
Of or belonging to the early part of life.
The cynical world soon shattered my young dreams.
Mature
To reach the date when payment is due.
When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.
Young
(obsolete) Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
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
(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
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
To become or seem to become younger.
Mature
Of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years.
Young
To cause to appear younger.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Young
(geology) To exhibit younging.
Mature
To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans.
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
To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience.
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
Hence, to become due, as a note.
Young
Having little experience; inexperienced; unpracticed; ignorant; weak.
Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this.
Mature
Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast
Young
The offspring of animals, either a single animal or offspring collectively.
[The egg] bursting with kindly rupture, forth disclosedTheir callow young.
Mature
Develop and work out fully in one's mind;
I need to mature my thoughts
Young
Any immature animal
Mature
Become due for repayment;
These bonds mature in 2005
Young
United States film and television actress (1913-2000)
Mature
Cause to ripen or develop fully;
The sun ripens the fruit
Age matures a good wine
Young
United States civil rights leader (1921-1971)
Mature
Grow old or older;
She aged gracefully
We age every day--what a depressing thought!
Young men senesce
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
Cause to ripen and discharge pus;
The oil suppurates the pustules
Young
United States jazz tenor saxophonist (1909-1959)
Mature
Characteristic of maturity;
Mature for her age
Young
English poet (1683-1765)
Mature
Fully considered and perfected;
Mature plans
Young
United States baseball player and famous pitcher (1867-1955)
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development;
A mature cell
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
Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used;
Ripe peaches
Full-bodies mature wines
Young
Young people collectively;
Rock music appeals to the young
Youth everywhere rises in revolt
Mature
(of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
Young
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth;
Young people
Mature
Fully developed in body or mind.
She is a Mature and wise leader.
Young
(of crops) harvested at an early stage of development; before complete maturity;
New potatoes
Young corn
Mature
Having reached the final stage of a process.
The bond is Mature and ready for payment.
Mature
Exhibiting refined judgment.
His Mature perspective was appreciated by all.
Mature
Having undergone aging, especially in relation to food or drink.
The Mature cheese has a rich flavor.
Mature
Grown to full size and strength.
The Mature oak stood tall in the forest.
Common Curiosities
How is Young defined?
Young refers to being in an early stage of life, growth, or development.
Is Young always about living beings?
No, Young can describe anything in its early stages, like a Young company.
Does Mature always signify something positive?
Context matters. While Mature usually connotes full development or refinement, it could also imply nearing an end, as in a Mature bond.
Can Young be used to describe a new idea?
Yes, Young can be used metaphorically to describe something new or fresh.
How does a Mature plant differ from a Young one?
A Mature plant has typically reached its growth potential, while a Young plant is still developing.
Does Mature always refer to age?
No, Mature can refer to mental development, financial instruments, or even aged products like cheese.
Can a business be described as Mature?
Yes, a Mature business typically has stable growth, while a Young business might still be rapidly expanding.
How does being Mature differ from being old?
While both suggest advanced age, Mature often emphasizes full development or refinement, whereas old primarily indicates age.
What does Mature mean?
Mature denotes being fully developed, whether physically, mentally, or both.
Can someone be Young yet Mature?
Yes, someone can be chronologically Young but display Mature qualities or judgment.
Can Young also mean naïve?
While Young primarily denotes age, it can imply naivety due to lack of experience.
Which term, Mature or Young, relates to adolescence?
Adolescence is generally associated with the Young phase, though it’s a transition to maturity.
Can a Young wine be considered Mature?
Not typically. In the context of wines, Mature would mean it has aged to a desired quality.
What is a Mature market?
A Mature market has reached saturation, with limited potential for growth.
Is a Mature product in its final phase?
Generally, a Mature product is in its peak phase before it declines or is phased out.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
