adjective
-
exhibiting silliness; immature; trivial
-
of or characteristic of a child
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of puerile
1650–60; < Latin puerīlis boyish, equivalent to puer boy + -īlis -ile
Explanation
Some people like their movies to have sophisticated humor and others prefer the more puerile humor of pratfalls or jokes about smelly underwear, inappropriate belching, and passing gas. Although the adjective, puerile can be used to describe anything related to childhood, more often than not, it is used in a derisive manner to comment on the immaturity, silliness, or juvenile nature of something or someone. So if you hear someone talk about puerile toys, they may merely be remarking on the toys of childhood, but it is more likely they are discussing whoopee cushions, fake dog poo, and the like.
Vocabulary lists containing puerile
The SAT: Words to Capture Tone, List 2
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300 Most Difficult "SAT" Words
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The New SAT: Words to Capture Tone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Puerile and silly, but there's nothing wrong with that ...
From The Guardian • Jul. 25, 2013
Each Manner of Singing hath a different Degree of Eminence; the Nervous and Strong is distinguished from the Puerile and Weak, as is the Noble from the Vulgar.
From Observations on the Florid Song or Sentiments on the Ancient and Modern Singers by Galliard, John Ernest
Puerile puns, personal banter of a rather homely type, and good stories collected from other people are all that the books disclose.
From Collections and Recollections by Russell, George William Erskine
Puerile as such an exercise may seem, it sharpens the faculties of observation, and teaches one where to look and what to look for.
From A Study in Scarlet by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir
Puerile attempts at wit, and diatribes of abuse are all that the silver men have heard in sixteen years in answer to the contentions they have made in favor of the remonetization of silver.
From Money: Speech of Hon. John P. Jones, of Nevada, On the Free Coinage of Silver; in the United States Senate, May 12 and 13, 1890 by Jones, John P. (John Percival)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
