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　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Nov. 14, 2025 •History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot ephebophilia, the sexual preference of an adult for mid- to late adolescents, specifically those who have reached or are near physical maturity but are below the legal age of adulthood. Often, the adolescents are aged 15 or 16 but in some cases may be slightly older. Ephebophilia is a complex and controversial subject that raises questions about the age of sexual consent, social ethics, and legal consequences. In psychiatric classification ephebophilia is generally discussed under...

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