Definition of 'childish'
1. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
2. adjective
If you
describe someone,
especially an
adult, as childish, you
disapprove of them because they
behave in an
immature way.
[disapproval]
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Video: pronunciation of
childish
Word Frequency
childish in British English
adjective
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
childishly (ˈchildishly) adverb
childishness (ˈchildishness)
noun
Word Frequency
childish in American English
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈchildˌlike
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
childishly (ˈchildishly)
adverb
childishness (ˈchildishness)
noun
Examples of 'childish' in a sentence
childish
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.
Read more…
Trends of
childish
View usage for:
In other languages
childish
British English: childish
/ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/ ADJECTIVE
Childish means relating to or typical of a child.
...childish enthusiasm.
- American English: childish
- Arabic: طُفُوليّ
- Brazilian Portuguese: infantil
- Chinese: 孩子气的
- Croatian: djetinjast
- Czech: dětinský
- Danish: barnlig
- Dutch: kinderachtig
- European Spanish: infantil
- Finnish: lapsellinen
- French: puéril
- German: kindisch
- Greek: παιδιάστικος
- Italian: infantile
- Japanese: 子供じみた
- Korean: 유치한
- Norwegian: barnslig
- Polish: dziecinny
- European Portuguese: infantil
- Romanian: copilăros
- Russian: детский
- Latin American Spanish: pueril
- Swedish: barnslig
- Thai: ไร้เดียงสาอย่างเด็ก
- Turkish: çocukça
- Ukrainian: дитячий
- Vietnamese: ấu trĩ
Nearby words of
childish
Related terms of
childish
Source
Definition of childish from the
Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
cornflour or cornflower?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
cornflower
cornflour
He was wearing a blue shirt.
censor or sensor?
Which version is correct?
knight or night?
Which version is correct?
ascent or assent?
Which version is correct?
yoke or yolk?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
yoke
yolk
The oxen were harnessed together by a .
Your score:
Word of the day
cli-fi
a genre of science-fiction concerned with the effects of climate change
Latest Word Submissions
New hope for the New Year
New Year’s Eve is traditionally when we fix our gaze firmly forward in hope, having cast a backward glance at the year just ended. Which, despite the negatives, saw a healthy increase in good-neighbourliness and kindness as demonstrated, for instance, by caremongering.
Read more
Food for thought this Christmas
I don’t know about you, but I’m already salivating at the prospect of Christmas food. The first pangs start early in December with the nostalgia rush I get upon spotting dinky net bags of mixed nuts for sale.
Read more
Eight Gaelic words from the Collins English Dictionary
English is a language that has seen its vocabulary shaped and influenced by many neighbouring tongues from across the globe over the course of time…including some that are a bit closer to home.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
councillor or counsellor?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
counsellor
councillor
They sought the help of a marriage .
sun or son?
Which version is correct?
aid or aide?
Which version is correct?
bough or bow?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
bow
bough
I gave a theatrical and waved.
stile or style?
Which version is correct?
Your score: