infantile

/ˈɪnfəntaɪl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnfəntaɪl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-fən-ˌtī(-ə)l -tᵊl -ˌtēl -(ˌ)til/ (ame, mw)

infantile — adjective

  • infantilepositive
  • more infantilecomparative
  • most infantilesuperlative

1. describing the behaviour, speech, or reactions of an adult that look silly or im

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing the behaviour, speech, or reactions of an adult that look silly or immature because they resemble what a small child would do.

例句

Elena rolled her eyes at her boss's infantile tantrum over the broken coffee machine.

infantile + tantrum/behaviour (typical noun collocation)

Pulling faces during the wedding speech was an infantile thing for a grown man to do.

predicative: was infantile + for + noun

同義詞
  • childish

    everyday near-synonym; slightly less harsh than infantile

  • puerile

    more formal and literary; often about humour or argument

  • immature

    broader; covers emotional and intellectual under-development

反義詞
  • mature

    showing adult emotional self-control

  • grown-up

    informal positive opposite, often of behaviour

用法筆記

Strongly negative and judgemental — used to criticise an adult, not to describe a real child. Distinguish from sense 2, which is neutral and medical/technical.

常見錯誤

❌The baby gave an infantile smile.
✅The baby gave a sweet smile.
💡sense 1 only applies to adults acting childishly; using it of a real child sounds odd.

2. happening in, or affecting the body of, babies and very young children; used mai

2.形容詞C2
釋義

happening in, or affecting the body of, babies and very young children; used mainly in medical and scientific writing.

例句

Dr. Otis specialises in infantile heart conditions at the children's hospital in Stockholm.

infantile + medical condition (typical attributive use)

Routine vaccinations have sharply reduced infantile mortality across the region since the 1980s.

fixed collocation: infantile mortality

同義詞
  • neonatal

    stricter: only the first 28 days after birth

  • paediatric

    covers children up to adolescence, not just infants

反義詞
  • adult

    occurring in or affecting grown people

文法句型

infantile + medical/technical noun

用法筆記

Almost always sits before a noun in medical, scientific, or statistical writing (infantile mortality, infantile eczema). In everyday speech people say 'baby' or 'in babies' instead. Distinguish from sense 1, which judges adult behaviour.

常見錯誤

❌My infantile son likes peas.
✅My baby son likes peas.
💡sense 2 belongs to clinical writing; in normal speech use 'baby' or 'young'.