puerile

[ pyoo-er-il, -uh-rahyl, pyoor-il, -ahyl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a child or to childhood.

   Synonyms: juvenile, youthful

2. childishly foolish; immature or trivial:

   a puerile piece of writing.

   Synonyms: silly, juvenile

puerile

/ ˈpjʊəraɪl; pjʊəˈrɪlɪtɪ /

adjective

1. exhibiting silliness; immature; trivial
2. of or characteristic of a child

Derived Forms

• ˈpuerilely, adverb
• puerility, noun

Other Words From

• puer·ile·ly adverb
• non·puer·ile adjective
• non·puer·ile·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of puerile¹

1650–60; < Latin puerīlis boyish, equivalent to puer boy + -īlis -ile

Word History and Origins

Origin of puerile¹

C17: from Latin puerīlis childish, from puer a boy

Example Sentences

If his puerile social media posts, uncouth behavior and playground insults were unpresidential, the thinking went, well, that showed a certain authenticity and a willingness to overturn convention and break some china that badly needed breaking.

From Los Angeles Times

It's the people in the pin-striped suits laughing at his puerile insult "comedy" and loving watching him sticking it to the libs.

From Salon

Kevin Maher of the Times called the film "puerile, pointless and intellectually specious", noting that some audience members walked out of the Cannes Film Festival screening.

From BBC

His speeches and press conferences are surreal windows into his undisciplined, puerile mind.

From Salon

The early days were defined by blistering, puerile songs, many of which did not have choruses — a style that remains their trademark.

From New York Times

Related Words

• callow
• infantile