infantility

infantility — noun

1. behaviour or thinking that shows a lack of emotional maturity, like that of a ve

1.nounC2
Definition

behaviour or thinking that shows a lack of emotional maturity, like that of a very young child — used especially to criticise an adult or older child for acting unreasonably or selfishly.

Example

Cyrus was shocked when his colleague's infantility made her refuse to speak after a simple disagreement.

uncountable noun, used with possessive [someone]'s infantility

The board tired of the CEO's infantility and his habit of blaming others for every mistake.

Common collocations
  • emotional infantility
  • sheer infantility
  • childish infantility
Synonyms
  • childishness

    more common in everyday speech; 'infantility' is stronger and more formal

  • immaturity

    broader term for lack of grown-up behaviour, not limited to childlike behaviour

  • puerility

    similar formality but less common; focuses on silliness or triviality

Antonyms
  • maturity

    the opposite quality of being grown-up in thinking and behaviour

  • adulthood

    focuses on age rather than behaviour, but implies expected maturity

Grammar Patterns

uncountable

Usage Note

This noun is uncountable and almost always used as a criticism of someone who is old enough to behave more maturely. It is more common in formal or written contexts than in everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

His infantility is very high.
His behaviour shows a great deal of infantility.
'infantility' is not used with levels like 'high' or 'low'; it describes a quality of someone's actions or thinking.
The baby's infantility was cute.
The baby's infancy was a happy time.
'infantility' refers to childish behaviour in someone who is not a baby; 'infancy' is the correct word for the state of being a baby.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three words describe a lack of grown-up behaviour, but they differ in strength and context. 'Childishness' is the most common and neutral term — it simply describes behaviour unsuitable for an adult's age. 'Infantility' is stronger and more formal, suggesting behaviour so childlike that it seems inappropriate or embarrassing in an adult. 'Immaturity' is broader: it can refer to emotional, social, or intellectual underdevelopment without the specific image of a young child. 'Puerility' is the rarest of the four; it emphasises silliness or triviality. For example, refusing to eat a meal because it was not cooked your way would be described as childishness or infantility, but not normally as immaturity (which would refer to a wider pattern), and not as puerility (which implies trivial foolishness rather than a childish tantrum).

childishness ↗immaturity ↗puerility

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • an act of infantility
  • a level of infantility

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From the adjective 'infantile' (childish) plus the noun-forming suffix '-ity'. 'Infantile' traces back through French to Latin 'infantilis' (pertaining to an infant), which comes from 'infans' — literally 'not speaking', i.e. a very young child. The word carries a critical tone that developed in the 19th century as psychology began using 'infantile' to describe behaviour that was regressively childlike.