infantilism

[in-fuhn-tl-iz-uhm, -tahy-liz-, in-fan-tl-iz-uhm]

noun

1. the persistence in an adult of markedly childish anatomical, physiological, or psychological characteristics.

2. an infantile act, trait, etc., especially in an adult.

3. a speech disorder characterized by speech and voice patterns that are typical of very young children.

infantilism

/ ɪnˈfæntɪˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. psychol

   1. a condition in which an older child or adult is mentally or physically undeveloped

   2. isolated instances of infantile behaviour in mature persons

2. childish speech; baby talk

Word History and Origins

Origin of infantilism¹

First recorded in 1890–95; infantile + -ism

Example Sentences

The separation of those functions inoculates Britain from the infantilism peculiar to the American republic.

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It’s a childish move, but in keeping with the infantilism that still shapes the brothers’ uneasy relationship and their awkwardness with outsiders, particularly women.

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Others might speculate on this, but only I can truly channel Trump, since only I possess the requisite degree of infantilism:

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Biden’s grown-up respect for institutional proprieties might be infectious, encouraging temperateness among his dissatisfied countrymen, 74 million of whom voted for four more years of infantilism.

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Here, I thought, is finally a moment where we shed the infantilism inherent in favoring mythology over truth.

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Related Words

• ignorance 
• imperfection