Etymology
Origin of immaturity
1530–40; immature + -ity, probably reflecting Latin immātūritās untimely haste, unripeness
Explanation
The state of immaturity suggests something that has not ripened or is not fully grown. Applied to humans, it is the state of being less than fully-grown, or at least of acting in a childish or silly manner. With the Latin word immātūritās meaning "unripeness," as in a piece of fruit that is not yet fully developed, we can see the meaning of the modern word immaturity. Nowadays, the word is applied more often to people than to fruit, usually in referring to foolish behavior. Although the word is most often used to refer to adolescent behavior, it can still be applied to a physical state of development. And of course, it can still be applied to underripe produce.
Vocabulary lists containing immaturity
"Fears and Phobias," Vocabulary from the article
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"Fears and Phobias"
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Lessons 2–4
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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.
The company’s performance was affected by revenue immaturity of its new routes at Milan Linate and Rome Fiumicino airports, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026
Paul ranted against the “petty vindictiveness” of the move, how “the level of immaturity is beyond words,” how he had lost “a lot of respect” for Trump, and how it wouldn’t stop him.
From Slate • Jun. 14, 2025
The point of all this is to inflict so much mediocrity and immaturity on federal workers that they quit.
From Salon • Jan. 31, 2025
Harris, who has one previous conviction for possessing a knife, lacked "immaturity" and "consequential decision making" his defence barrister Simon Ward said.
From BBC • Jan. 16, 2025
They both resented the marriage because it exposed—to each other, if not to society at large—their own immaturity, moral weaknesses, and intellectual shortcomings.
From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols
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.
