/bil"doongz roh mahn'/ ; Ger. /beel"doongks rddaw mahn'/ , n. , pl. Bildungsromans , Ger. Bildungsromane /-mah'neuh/ .
a type of novel concerned with the education, development, and maturing of a young protagonist.
[ 1905-10; Bildung formation + -s n. ending in compounds + Roman novel ]