high-school-age
UK[ˌhaɪ skuːl ˈeɪdʒ]US[ˌhaɪ skul ˈeɪdʒ]
adj
Of or relating to the typical age of a student attending high school.
Morpheme Breakdown
high-school
age
high-school
institution
age
period of life
Etymology
The term is a modern English compound adjective formed by combining the established compound noun 'high school' with the noun 'age'. 'High school' itself originates from the 19th-century American educational system, denoting a secondary school considered higher than elementary or grammar school. The word 'age', from Latin 'aetas' via Old French 'aage', refers to a period of life or existence. The compound 'high-school-age' thus logically denotes the specific life period associated with attendance at a high school, reflecting a societal categorization based on educational stage rather than mere chronological years.
Analysis
Structure: high-school (institution) + age (period of life)
high-school: A compound noun of Old English origin ('heah' meaning high, 'scolu' meaning school), functioning as a modifier.
age: A noun of Old French/Latin origin ('aetaticum' from 'aetas' meaning period, lifetime), functioning as the head noun in the compound.
Examples
The program is designed for high-school-age teenagers.
Marketing campaigns often target high-school-age consumers.
She writes young adult novels featuring high-school-age protagonists.