infantilism

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

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

Origin of infantilism

1
First recorded in 1890–95; infantile + -ism

Words Nearby infantilism

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use infantilism in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for infantilism

infantilism

/ (ɪnˈfæntɪˌlɪzəm) /


noun
  1. psychol

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

    • isolated instances of infantile behaviour in mature persons

  2. childish speech; baby talk

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012