childish
- 01 B1 Intermediate
acting in a silly or annoying way that is not appropriate for an adult.
exhibiting immaturity or lack of emotional control; typically used as a pejorative when applied to adults.
Simple“Stop being so childish and just share the remote with your brother.”
In context“The manager's childish refusal to acknowledge his mistake during the board meeting damaged his professional reputation beyond repair.”
PitfallHe has a childish smile. He has a childlike smile.Use 'childish' for negative traits like being silly. Use 'childlike' for positive traits like being innocent or happy.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
suitable for or made for a child.
pertaining to or characteristic of a child; suitable for a young person's stage of development.
Simple“The book was written in a childish style that was easy for five-year-olds to follow.”
In context“The handwriting on the envelope was large and childish, suggesting the letter had been penned by a primary school student.”
Antonyms
childish vs childlike — Childish describes immature behavior that is annoying or inappropriate, while childlike describes positive qualities like innocence or wonder.
From Middle English childisch, from Old English ċildisċ. By surface analysis, child + ish.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.