infantile

adjective

in·​fan·​tile ˈin-fən-ˌtī(-ə)l  -tᵊl  -ˌtēl  -(ˌ)til 

1

: of or relating to infants or infancy

2

: suitable to or characteristic of an infant

especially : very immature

infantile humor

infantility

ˌin-fən-ˈti-lə-tē 

noun

Synonyms

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

Examples of infantile in a Sentence

the infantile humor that teenage boys are justly famous for

Recent Examples on the Web

And yet Hathaway’s most recent look–including those mesh slip-ons, a baggy skirt, a waistcoat, a grandma-ish sunhat and a Birkin customized with an infantile horse charm–is a return to form. —Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 20 June 2024

Dunst sleepwalks through this noxious comedy based on Toby Young’s 2001 memoir of the same name, playing a writer who takes a reluctant liking to Pegg’s infantile nitwit. —Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 12 Apr. 2024

The hallmark of Zionism is an infantile sense of entitlement coupled with a culture of imposition. —Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2024

Instead, Putin has suspended cooperation on nuclear nonproliferation, discussed the possibility of a nuclear strike with infantile levity, expressed teenage grievances, and shown an unwillingness to maintain even a minimal level of dialogue. —Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 25 May 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing infantile

• infantile paralysis

Kids Definition

infantile

adjective

in·​fan·​tile ˈin-fən-ˌtīl 

-tᵊl,

-ˌtēl

: of, relating to, or resembling infants or infancy

also : childish

Medical Definition

infantile

adjective

in·​fan·​tile ˈin-fən-ˌtīl  -tᵊl  -ˌtēl  -(ˌ)til 

1

: of, relating to, or occurring in infants or infancy

infantile eczema

2

: suitable to or characteristic of an infant

especially : very immature