childish
Americanadjective
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of, like, or befitting a child.
childish games.
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puerile; weak; silly.
childish fears.
adjective
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in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child
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foolish or petty; puerile
childish fears
Related Words
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.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of childish
First recorded before 1000; Middle English childisch, Old English cildisc; child + -ish 1
Explanation
If you act immature or bratty, you're being childish. A childish dinner guest might pout because you didn't make dessert. While the adjective childish is sometimes used to simply mean "like a child," it's more common to use childlike in this way. When your teacher comments that your chattering during class is childish behavior, she means that you're acting as juvenile as a four year old child. This negative implication has been attached to childish since the 15th century. The word comes from the Old English cildisc, "proper to a child."
Vocabulary lists containing childish
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.
"It was a childish escapade that got out of hand," he said.
From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026
All my friends of divorced parents have a funny thing about them, because what is more childish than being like: “I can’t be with you anymore?”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026
Since the Atlantic story appeared, Patel’s childish reaction to criticism has been on full display.
From Salon • Apr. 24, 2026
Initially, “Lord of the Flies” is all childish adventure: swimming in a lagoon, climbing a mountain.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
Inside, I found a cream-colored envelope—thick paper, crisp and very formal—but the handwriting was crabbed and childish as a fifth-grader’s, in pencil.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
