Mature vs. Age — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Updated on May 3, 2024
Mature refers to full development, often implying wisdom or emotional depth, while age is simply the measure of time someone or something has existed.
Difference Between Mature and Age
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Mature often refers to a state of being fully developed, which can be in physical, emotional, or intellectual aspects. Whereas age denotes the length of time that a person, animal, or thing has existed, often expressed in years.
In humans, maturity is sometimes associated with reaching a certain level of emotional or psychological growth, which does not necessarily correlate with their age. On the other hand, age is a numerical fact, strictly indicating the years lived from birth.
Mature is also used to describe other living beings or entities, like mature trees or mature markets, indicating a stage of growth or development that suggests fullness or readiness for harvest. Whereas age can be used similarly but focuses more on the period or duration of existence rather than the state of development.
Maturity can imply a quality of being complete or ready, as in mature decisions or mature behaviors, which suggest a depth of thought or wisdom. Age, however, is neutral and does not convey any inherent qualities about the state or capabilities of an entity.
Comparison Chart
Definition
State of being fully developed.
Length of time an entity has existed.
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Connotation
Implies readiness or completion.
Neutral, chronological measurement.
Usage in context
Emotional, psychological growth.
Legal age, years lived.
Societal implications
Maturity may grant certain societal roles.
Age determines certain legal rights.
Example in other entities
Mature trees, mature markets.
Age of buildings, age of wine.
Compare with Definitions
Mature
Fully developed in body or mind.
The mature student excelled in her college courses.
Age
A period characterized by a specific feature.
The age of technology has transformed how we communicate.
Mature
Describing a market or economy that has developed to a state of equilibrium.
The mature automotive market has fewer opportunities for new entrants.
Age
A specific stage of life.
She wrote her first novel at the age of twenty-two.
Mature
Financially stable or secure.
Mature investments provide steady income.
Age
The duration of an entity’s existence.
The building's age is evident in its architecture.
Mature
Fully ripe, as in fruit or cheese.
They served a platter with several mature cheeses.
Age
To grow older.
As the actor aged, he took on more complex roles.
Mature
Denoting thoughtful, well-considered behavior or decisions.
His mature approach to conflict resolution improved team dynamics.
Age
The latter part of life, old age.
In his old age, he took up painting.
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development
A mature cell.
Age
The length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed
He died from a heart attack at the age of 51
He must be nearly 40 years of age
Mature
Having reached a desired or final condition; ripe
A mature cheese.
Age
A distinct period of history
An age of technological growth
Mature
Worked out fully by the mind; considered
A mature plan of action.
Age
Grow old or older
The tiredness we feel as we age
Mature
Having reached the limit of its time; due
A mature bond.
Age
The length of time that a person or thing has existed
A man 23 years of age.
Wanted to know the age of the house.
Mature
No longer subject to great expansion or development. Used of an industry, market, or product.
Age
The time of life when a person becomes qualified to assume certain civil and personal rights and responsibilities, usually at 18 or 21 years; legal age
Under age.
Of age.
Mature
(Geology) Having reached maximum development of form. Used of streams and landforms.
Age
One of the stages of life
The age of adolescence.
At an awkward age.
Mature
To bring to full development; ripen.
Age
The state of being old; old age
Hair white with age.
Mature
To work out fully in the mind
"able to digest and mature my thoughts for my own mind only" (John Stuart Mill).
Age
A period of time marked by a distinctive characteristic, achievement, or figure
The Stone Age.
The computer age.
The Elizabethan Age.
Mature
To evolve toward or reach full development
The child's judgment matures as she grows older.
Age
A period in the history of the earth, usually shorter than an epoch
The Ice Age.
Mature
To become due. Used of notes and bonds.
Age
The period of history during which a person lives
A product of his 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.
Age
A generation
Ages yet unborn.
Mature
Brought to a state of complete readiness.
A mature plan
Age
Ages(Informal) An extended period of time
Left ages ago.
Mature
Profound; careful.
The headmaster decided to expel the boy after a mature consideration.
Age
To cause to become old or to show the signs of becoming old
The stress of the office visibly aged the president.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Age
To cause to mature or ripen under controlled conditions
Aging wine.
Mature
(intransitive) To proceed toward maturity: full development or completion (either of concrete or of abstract things, e.g. plans, judgments, qualities).
Age
To change (the characteristics of a device) through use, especially to stabilize (an electronic device).
Mature
To attain maturity, to become mature or ripe.
Age
To become old or show signs of becoming old
Who doesn't want to age gracefully?.
Mature
(transitive) To bring (something) to maturity, full development, or completion.
Age
To develop a certain quality of ripeness; become mature
Cheese aging at room temperature.
Mature
(transitive) To make (something, e.g. fruit) ripe or mature.
Age
(countable) The whole duration of a being, whether human, animal, plant, or other kind, being alive.
Mature
To proceed toward or become mature or full-grown, either physically or psychologically; to gain experience or wisdom with age.
Age
(countable) The number of full years, months, days, hours, etc., that someone, or something, has been alive.
Mature
(transitive) To make (someone) mature.
Age
(countable) One of the stages of life.
The age of infancy
Mature
To reach the date when payment is due.
When the bond matures, the full face value is payable to its bearer.
Age
(countable) The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested.
The age of consent; the age of discretion
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?
Age
(countable) A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others.
The golden age; the age of Pericles
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.
Age
(countable) A great period in the history of the Earth.
The Bronze Age was followed by the Iron Age; the Tithonian Age was the last in the Late Jurassic epoch
Mature
Of or pertaining to a condition of full development; as, a man of mature years.
Age
(astrology) One of the twelve divisions of a Great Year, equal to roughly 2000 years and goverened by one of the zodiacal signs; a Platonic month.
Mature
Come to, or in a state of, completed suppuration.
Age
(countable) A period of one hundred years; a century.
Mature
To bring or hasten to maturity; to promote ripeness in; to ripen; to complete; as, to mature one's plans.
Age
(countable) The people who live during a particular period.
Mature
To advance toward maturity; to become ripe; as, wine matures by age; the judgment matures by age and experience.
Age
(countable) A generation.
There are three ages living in her house.
Mature
Hence, to become due, as a note.
Age
A long time.
It’s been an age since we last saw you.
Mature
Develop and reach maturity; undergo maturation;
He matured fast
The child grew fast
Age
The shortest geochronologic unit, being a period of thousands to millions of years; a subdivision of an epoch (or sometimes a subepoch).
Mature
Develop and work out fully in one's mind;
I need to mature my thoughts
Age
The right of the player to the left of the dealer to pass the first round in betting, and then to come in last or stay out; also, the player holding this position; the eldest hand.
Mature
Become due for repayment;
These bonds mature in 2005
Age
(uncountable) That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; specifically the size of that part.
What is the present age of a man, or of the earth?
Mature
Cause to ripen or develop fully;
The sun ripens the fruit
Age matures a good wine
Age
(uncountable) Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities.
To come of age; she is now of age
Mature
Grow old or older;
She aged gracefully
We age every day--what a depressing thought!
Young men senesce
Age
(uncountable) An advanced period of life; the latter part of life; the state of being old, old age, senility; seniority.
Wisdom doesn't necessarily come with age, sometimes age just shows up all by itself.
Mature
Cause to ripen and discharge pus;
The oil suppurates the pustules
Age
(intransitive) To grow aged; to become old; to show marks of age.
He grew fat as he aged.
Mature
Characteristic of maturity;
Mature for her age
Age
To be viewed or turn out in some way after a certain time has passed.
His prediction that we didn't stand a chance hasn't aged well, now that we've won the cup.
Mature
Fully considered and perfected;
Mature plans
Age
(transitive) To cause to grow old; to impart the characteristics of age to.
Grief ages us.
Mature
Having reached full natural growth or development;
A mature cell
Age
To postpone an action that would extinguish something, as a debt.
Money's a little tight right now, let's age our bills for a week or so.
Mature
Fully developed or matured and ready to be eaten or used;
Ripe peaches
Full-bodies mature wines
Age
To categorize by age.
One his first assignments was to age the accounts receivable.
Mature
(of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
Age
(transitive) To indicate that a person has been alive for a certain period of time, especially a long one.
Age
The whole duration of a being, whether animal, vegetable, or other kind; lifetime.
Mine age is as nothing before thee.
Age
That part of the duration of a being or a thing which is between its beginning and any given time; as, what is the present age of a man, or of the earth?
Age
The latter part of life; an advanced period of life; seniority; state of being old.
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.
Age
One of the stages of life; as, the age of infancy, of youth, etc.
Age
Mature age; especially, the time of life at which one attains full personal rights and capacities; as, to come of age; he (or she) is of age.
Age
The time of life at which some particular power or capacity is understood to become vested; as, the age of consent; the age of discretion.
Age
A particular period of time in history, as distinguished from others; as, the golden age, the age of Pericles.
Truth, in some age or other, will find her witness.
Age
A great period in the history of the Earth.
Age
A century; the period of one hundred years.
Fleury . . . apologizes for these five ages.
Age
The people who live at a particular period; hence, a generation.
The way which the age follows.
Lo! where the stage, the poor, degraded stage,Holds its warped mirror to a gaping age.
Age
A long time.
Age
The right belonging to the player to the left of the dealer to pass the first round in betting, and then to come in last or stay out; also, the player holding this position; the eldest hand.
Age
To grow aged; to become old; to show marks of age; as, he grew fat as he aged.
They live one hundred and thirty years, and never age for all that.
I am aging; that is, I have a whitish, or rather a light-colored, hair here and there.
Age
To cause to grow old; to impart the characteristics of age to; as, grief ages us.
Age
How long something has existed;
It was replaced because of its age
Age
An era of history having some distinctive feature;
We live in a litigious age
Age
A time in life (usually defined in years) at which some particular qualification or power arises;
She was now of school age
Tall for his eld
Age
A late time of life;
Old age is not for sissies
He's showing his years
Age hasn't slowed him down at all
A beard white with eld
On the brink of geezerhood
Age
A prolonged period of time;
We've known each other for ages
I haven't been there for years and years
Age
Begin to seem older; get older;
The death of his wife caused him to age fast
Age
Grow old or older;
She aged gracefully
We age every day--what a depressing thought!
Young men senesce
Age
Make older;
The death of his child aged him tremendously
Common Curiosities
Is maturity a legal term?
Maturity itself is not a legal term, but it is often used in legal contexts to assess readiness or responsibility.
Does age always correlate with maturity?
No, age and maturity do not always correlate as maturity depends more on experiences and personal growth.
What is considered a mature age?
A mature age can refer to adults typically over 25 years old, though this can vary based on context.
How does society view age and maturity?
Society often uses age as a measure for certain milestones, while maturity is seen as an indicator of an individual's capability to handle responsibilities.
How is age calculated?
Age is calculated by counting the years from the date of birth to the current date.
What are signs of maturity in individuals?
Signs of maturity include emotional regulation, responsible behavior, and thoughtful decision-making.
Can maturity be measured?
Maturity isn't quantifiable like age but is often assessed through behavior and decision-making.
What does it mean to be mature?
Being mature means having or showing the mental and emotional qualities of an mature.
How do different cultures perceive age and maturity?
Cultural perceptions vary, but generally, age is respected, and maturity is valued across different societies.
What roles does maturity play in the workplace?
In the workplace, maturity can influence one's ability to lead effectively and collaborate with others.
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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.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
