childish

adjective

child·​ish ˈchī(-ə)l-dish 

1

: of, relating to, or suitable for a child or childhood

She didn't like dolls, fairy tales were childish, and one couldn't draw all the time.

—Louisa May Alcott

… heard childish voices and laughter afar up the lane …

—Lucy Maud Montgomery

2

a

: marked by or suggestive of immaturity and lack of poise

a childish prank

behavior that was petty and childish

b

: lacking complexity : simple

It's a childish device, but it works.

c

: exhibiting a decline of cognitive abilities (such as memory) associated with old age

He did not like to lose his temper with his parents. … They were both getting childish and needed care and yet they resented any loss of authority.

—Pearl Buck

childishly adverb

behaving childishly

The concept is almost childishly simple.

—Business Week

childishness noun

… the childishness of the script overshadows a marvelous performance by Dolly Parton …

—People Weekly

Synonyms

• adolescent
• babyish
• immature
• infantile
• jejune
• juvenile
• kiddish
• puerile

Examples of childish in a Sentence

She has a childish face.

a letter written in childish scrawl

He opened the gifts with childish delight.

We're tired of their childish games.

I find his humor very childish.

Recent Examples on the Web

The first as intended, that the debate was childish silliness that didn’t help anyone choose a candidate. —Letters To The Editor, Orange County Register, 17 Sep. 2024

Just enjoy this amazing spectacle and stop being childish. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2024

Voters are bored with the cruel and childish rhetorical exchanges between candidates and prefer to hear their ideas and compare their agendas instead. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 Aug. 2024

But there’s also a childish naivety to it: there’s nothing clever about the way James conducted himself in Dominik’s film. —Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 14 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see child

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

childish

adjective

child·​ish ˈchīl-dish 

1

: of, resembling, or suitable to a child

childish laughter

2

: showing the less pleasing qualities (as silliness) often thought to be those of children

childishly adverb

childishness noun