of age

of age

1. Old enough to be considered an adult (in law, or by society generally).

   Antonym: under age

   He's of age now: he can make his own decisions.

2. (formal, idiomatic, law, usually literary) Having existed for a certain period of time; used in referring to a person's age.

   One must be 18 years of age to be an eligible voter in most countries.

In the given senses above, of age almost always and usually has the following before the age being referred to: about; above; after; almost; around; as early/late/old/young as; at (just/least/only); attain, be, reach, and their conjugated derivatives; before; below; between or from... to... (in age ranges); beyond; by; from; just; less/older/younger than; now; only; over; then; through/thru; till; under; and until. Also, of age is followed by either "and below/younger" or "and above/older/over/up."

• come of age