grown-ass

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

Grown-up; adult; often used in reproach of an adult's immaturity, or, conversely, in assertion of maturity.

Register: slang, vulgar

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

They call it a sport, but to me it looks like a bunch of grown-ass men running around like children.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “grown-ass” mean?

Grown-up; adult; often used in reproach of an adult's immaturity, or, conversely, in assertion of maturity.

Is “grown-ass” formal or informal?

grown-ass is generally slang, vulgar.