Entry Word: puerile

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 having or showing the annoying qualities (as silliness) associated with children <told him that such puerile behavior would not be tolerated during the ceremony> — see childish
2 lacking in adult experience or maturity <allowed the company to be taken over by a bunch of puerile whippersnappers fresh out of business school> — see callow
3 lacking in seriousness or maturity <the kind of puerile jokes that teenage moviegoers apparently love> — see giddy 1