adj
Uncommon
immature
ih-muh-TYOOR
Immature (adj) means behaving in a childish or emotionally undeveloped way. Example: “His immature jokes annoyed the rest of the office.”
adj
1
Behaving in a childish or emotionally undeveloped way.
"His immature jokes annoyed the rest of the office."
"She realized it was immature to hold a grudge over something so small."
"He felt his immature reaction to the criticism had embarrassed him."
2
Not yet fully grown or developed.
"The immature fruit was still green and hard."
"These immature birds cannot fly yet and stay close to their parents."
"The tree is still immature, so it will not bear fruit for years."
How to use immature
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot fully grown up — either physically undeveloped, or acting in a childish way for one's age.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- immatures
- Comparative
- more immature
- Superlative
- most immature
Fill the gap
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His _____ jokes annoyed the rest of the office.
Etymology
From Latin immaturus, formed from "im-" ("not") plus maturus ("ripe").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for immature
See all rhymes for immature →Frequently asked questions
What does “immature” mean?
The word “immature” means behaving in a childish or emotionally undeveloped way. In plain terms, not fully grown up — either physically undeveloped, or acting in a childish way for one's age.
How do you pronounce “immature”?
“Immature” is pronounced ih-muh-TYOOR (/ɪməˈtjʊə(ɹ)/ in IPA).
How do you use “immature” in a sentence?
Here is “immature” used in a sentence: “His immature jokes annoyed the rest of the office.”
What part of speech is “immature”?
“Immature” is an adjective.
Where does the word “immature” come from?
The word “immature” comes from Latin. From Latin immaturus, formed from "im-" ("not") plus maturus ("ripe").
Is “immature” a common word?
“Immature” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “immature” have?
“Immature” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: behaving in a childish or emotionally undeveloped way.
What is the difference between immature meaning childish and immature meaning undeveloped?
When describing behavior, immature means acting in a childish or emotionally undeveloped way despite one's actual age, such as an adult throwing a tantrum. When describing growth or development, immature means not yet fully grown, as in an immature plant or an immature stage of an organism, with no judgment about behavior involved.
What is the difference between immature and childish?
Immature is the broader term, covering both a lack of physical or biological development and a lack of emotional maturity in behavior. Childish specifically criticizes behavior as being like that of a child, and is generally used only in the behavioral sense, not to describe physical growth.
Is immature always used as an insult?
Not always. When applied to behavior, it is typically critical, implying someone should know better. But when used to describe biological or developmental stages, such as an immature cell or an immature ecosystem, it is a neutral, technical description rather than an insult.
