immature

adjective

im·​ma·​ture ˌi-mə-ˈchu̇r  -ˈtu̇r 

-ˈtyu̇r

1

a

: exhibiting less than an expected degree of maturity

emotionally immature adults

b

: lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development

immature fruits

a sexually immature bird

c

: having the potential capacity to attain a definitive form or state : crude, unfinished

a vigorous but immature school of art

2

archaic : premature

immature noun

immaturely adverb

immaturity

ˌi-mə-ˈchu̇r-ə-tē 

-ˈtu̇r-

-ˈtyu̇r-

noun

Synonyms

• adolescent
• juvenile
• young
• youngish
• youthful

Examples of immature in a Sentence

The flock included both adult and immature birds.

His teachers have complained about his immature behavior.

Recent Examples on the Web

Cheri Hollis, a volunteer with the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, discovered Pepper — a 1.5-ounce bird still wearing its immature plumage — on Aug. 31, cavorting on the Florida beach with two other young piping plovers. —Sheryl Devore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Sep. 2023

Other avenues include using non-chemical options to kill immature mosquitoes – like bringing in fish to eat the larvae – setting sugar traps and using drones to find stagnant water for removal, Healy said. —Ritu Prasad, CNN, 12 Sep. 2023

Encourage immature pumpkins to harden their skins by placing them in a sunny spot to cure for 7 to 10 days. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2023

Lewis photographed 11 wayward flamingos—three adults and eight immature birds—feeding in the shallows of the refuge’s southernmost pond. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2023

Babies are born with an immature immune system, dependent for their first few months on protection from mom. —Lauran Neergaard, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2023

Levenson said these aggregations are usually all immature animals and mostly males. —Dennis Pillion | [e-mail], al, 17 Aug. 2023

Lymphocytes are germ fighters that develop from more immature versions of the same cells called lymphoblasts.8 In chronic leukemia, the cells can mature partly (and more are like normal white blood cells). —Barbara Brody, Health, 11 Aug. 2023

Being a relatively immature asset, Bitcoin is prone to volatility, erratic price movements, cyber theft, fraudulent exchanges, and an uncertain regulatory landscape. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 9 Aug. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Latin immaturus, from in- + maturus mature

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

immature

adjective

im·​ma·​ture ˌim-ə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r 

1

: not mature or fully developed : young, unripe

an immature bird

immature fruit

2

: showing less than an expected degree of maturity

immature behavior

immaturely adverb

Medical Definition

immature

adjective

im·​ma·​ture

ˌim-ə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r also -ˈchu̇(ə)r

: lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development

immature blood cells

emotionally immature

immaturely adverb

immaturity

-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət-ē also -ˈchu̇r-

noun

plural immaturities