infantilism

American  

[in-fuhn-tl-iz-uhm, -tahy-liz-, in-fan-tl-iz-uhm] / ˈɪn fən tlˌɪz əm, -taɪˌlɪz-, ɪnˈfæn tlˌɪz əm /

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.

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infantilism British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of infantilism

First recorded in 1890–95; infantile + -ism

Example Sentences

Because much of what royalty does amounts to public relations for itself, its occupational hazard is infantilism, to which several merry wives of Windsor and their disoriented husbands succumbed in recent decades.

From Washington Post

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.

From New York Times

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.

From Washington Post

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

From Seattle Times

On the other hand, the urgency, almost the desperation, to return feels like a microcosm of our national infantilism when faced with the need for self-discipline and deferred or denied gratification.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• ignorance
• imperfection