childish

[chahyl-dish]

adjective

1. of, like, or befitting a child.

   childish games.

2. puerile; weak; silly.

   childish fears.

childish

/ ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ /

adjective

1. in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child

2. foolish or petty; puerile

   childish fears

Other Word Forms

• childishly adverb
• childishness noun
• overchildish adjective
• overchildishly adverb
• overchildishness noun
• unchildish adjective
• unchildishly adverb
• unchildishness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of childish¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English childisch, Old English cildisc; child + -ish ¹

Synonym Study

Childish, infantile, childlike refer to characteristics or qualities of childhood. The ending -ish often has unfavorable connotations; childish therefore refers to characteristics that are undesirable and unpleasant: childish selfishness, outbursts of temper. Infantile, originally a general word, now often carries an even stronger idea of disapproval or scorn than does childish: infantile reasoning, behavior. The ending -like has pleasing or neutral connotations; childlike therefore refers to the characteristics that are desirable and admirable: childlike innocence, trust.

Example Sentences

After 3½ decades of Francoism, during which, the author reminds us, the dictator “decided that Spaniards were too childish to govern themselves,” there was a palpable sense of a nation orphaned.

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Such a strategy would be a childish way for this adult man to act.

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This train of thought may sound childish, but bear in mind that Penelope had muddled through without her parents for many a year.

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There was the picnic hamper of sandwiches, the trunk full of supplies, the cave walls full of Beowulf’s childish scrawls.

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He knew it was childish, but he didn’t care.

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Related Words

• childlike 
• foolish 
• naive 
• youthful