childish
Americanadjective
-
of, like, or befitting a child.
childish games.
-
puerile; weak; silly.
childish fears.
adjective
-
in the manner of, belonging to, or suitable to a child
-
foolish or petty; puerile
childish fears
Synonym Usage
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.
You’re trying to communicate something to a group that doesn’t want you to communicate to them, but, instead, wants you to simply imitate or channel angsty teenage feelings—that’s really childish.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
The vibes are childish, more like those of 11-year-old boys pretending they’re in an action cartoon than adult men who read books and enjoy the company of women.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Little by little, through her childish chatter retracing her arrival in Denmark and some research done in South Korea, Randel uncovered a different story from the one in her Danish adoption papers.
From Barron's ● Jun. 4, 2026
“Larry had a youthful, maybe childish exuberance in the way he voiced the character, and I wanted the character to connect with kids,” adds Duffield.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
Even as the words tumbled out, she knew how childish she sounded.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
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