The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 10 letter word ADOLESCENT
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
A
D
O
L
E
S
C
E
N
T
More clues leading to the result ADOLESCENT
- A smell hanging around: perhaps, credit youth?
- Youth has a benefit posted, reportedly
- Youth's rise incorporating state benefit
- Coming into a little money benefits youngster
- Spotty youth once slated wrongly
- Young person‘s allowance preserved by rise
- Youngster getting rise in benefit? Just the opposite
- Do cleanest changeovers for a youngster
- Teenager makes smell after beer-drinking party
- A colt needs schooling as a youngster
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "Spotty youth" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case spotty youth = adolescent.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does ADOLESCENT mean?
ADOLESCENT noun- A person who is in adolescence; someone who has reached puberty but is not yet an adult.
- Of, relating to, or at the age of adolescence; at the stage between being a child and an adult