The
age of majority is the threshold of
adulthood as it is conceptualized (and recognized or declared) in law. It is the chronological moment when
minors cease to legally be considered children and assume control over their persons, actions, and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and legal responsibilities of their parents or guardian over and for them. Most countries set majority at 18. The word
majority here refers to having greater years and being of full age; it is opposed to
minority, the state of being a minor. The law in a given jurisdiction may never actually use the term "age of majority" and the term thereby refers to a collection of laws bestowing the status of adulthood. The age of majority is a legally fixed age, concept, or statutory principle, which may differ depending on the jurisdiction, and may not necessarily correspond to actual mental or
physical maturity of an individual.