puerility

noun

pu·​er·​il·​i·​ty ˌpyu̇əˈrilətē 

-lətē, 

-i

plural -es

1

a

: the quality or state of being a child

specifically : the status under civil law of a child between infancy and puberty defined as from 7 to 14 years of age in boys and from 7 to 12 years of age in girls

b

: immaturity, childishness

the ballet comic in its puerility and ugliness

—Arnold Bennett

2

: an act, instance, or product of an immature mind

where he has committed the puerility of employing more words than are necessary, he now has the one correct word

—College English

pettiness, juvenilities, and … puerilities become not a great assembly like this

—John Adams

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French puerilité, from Latin puerilitat-, puerilitas, from puerilis + -itat-, -itas -ity

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