puerility

[ pyoo-uh-ril-i-tee, pyoo-ril- ]

noun

, plural pu·er·il·i·ties.

1. the state or quality of being a child.
2. the quality of being puerile; childish foolishness or triviality.
3. a puerile act, idea, remark, etc.:

   an inexcusable puerility.

Other Words From

• nonpu·er·ili·ty noun plural nonpuerilities

Word History and Origins

Origin of puerility¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English word from Latin word puerīlitās. See puerile, -ity

Example Sentences

I’d be more inclined to tut-tut at the puerility of the late Victorian sense of humor, except TikTok was only recently convincing people to eat Tide Pods.

From Seattle Times

The school officials’ contention that C.G.’s post was “hate speech targeting the Jewish community” was as dumb as his joke and confused puerility with animosity.

From Washington Post

Rated R for sex and violence of unusual puerility.

From New York Times

It was an extension of his general puerility, his weird clowning, his fake laughter.

From The Guardian

A nonchalance, bordering on puerility, colored her throwaway Halloween comment; what Lack characterized as cataclysmic seemed, to me and to some black people I talked to, somewhat boringly idiotic.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• absurdity
• apathy
• idiocy
• ignorance
• lunacy
• nonsense
• silliness