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REFERENCE

immature

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˌɪmətˈjʊɹ// UK //ˌɪmətʃˈɔː// im·ma·ture Archaic

adj. behaving in a way that is much younger than your actual age. You use this to describe someone who is not yet emotionally or mentally developed.

adj. displaying emotional or cognitive development below what is expected for a person's chronological age. Often carries a pejorative nuance when applied to adults.


SIMPLE

His immature behavior at the party embarrassed his friends.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager's immature reaction to criticism made it difficult for the team to provide honest feedback.

COMPLEX

While the biological markers of adulthood are clear, many psychologists argue that modern social structures allow individuals to remain emotionally immature well into their late twenties.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle French immature. Partially displaced unripe, from Old English unrīpe (“unripe, immature”).

Usage

Typically used as a gradable adjective; often follows linking verbs like 'be', 'seem', or 'act'.

Pitfall

He is very unmature.He is very immature.The correct negative prefix for 'mature' is 'im-', not 'un-'.

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