twentysomethings
|twen-ty-some-thing-s|
🇺🇸
/ˈtwɛntiˌsʌmθɪŋz/
🇬🇧
/ˈtwentiˌsʌmθɪŋz/
(twentysomething)
people around age 20–29
Etymology
'twentysomething' originates from Modern English, formed by combining the words 'twenty' and 'something', where 'twenty' (from Old English 'twēntig') denoted the number 20 and 'something' meant 'an unspecified amount or person'.
'twenty' comes from Old English 'twēntig' and 'something' from Old English 'sumþing'; these elements were combined in Modern English (mid-20th century) as the compound 'twenty-something', later written as 'twentysomething' with the plural 'twentysomethings'.
Initially it could mean 'twenty and a little' or simply 'about twenty', but over time it evolved into the specific sense 'a person aged between 20 and 29' and, by extension, the demographic group of people in their twenties.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
plural noun: people who are in their twenties (aged 20–29).
Many twentysomethings struggle with finding stable housing in expensive cities.
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Noun 2
a demographic group or category used in discussion, research, or marketing referring to those in their twenties.
Marketers often design campaigns specifically for twentysomethings because of their spending habits.
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Last updated: 2025/12/18 15:58