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 childish use of vulgar profanity simply leads peoople to view the speaker as being unable to express his/her view. —Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Apr. 2025

One standout was Helena Bonham Carter’s Red Queen running around the palace like a childish tyrant. —Bill Desowitz, IndieWire, 26 Mar. 2025

That was a childish goal of the sort that had led her to challenge deëxtinction for so many years. —D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025

Saying that people are childish and should show more journalistic integrity in a piece like this is missing the point. —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

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