Meaning & use
immature
Last updated
Meanings
adjectivecomparabledisapproving
Behaving in a childish way that does not suit one's age, showing poor judgment or self-control.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: an immature remark, he is immature.
Patterns
- immature behavior
- be immature about something
It was immature of him to sulk after the game.
Her immature reaction embarrassed her friends.
They acted immature about the whole argument.
adjectivecomparablebiology
Not yet fully grown or developed, as a plant, animal or body part.
Grammar: Often used in science: immature fruit, immature cells.
Patterns
- immature fruit
- immature stage
The immature fruit was still green and hard.
Immature birds cannot fly far.
Immature cells divide quickly.
adjectivecomparablebusiness
Not yet refined or advanced, as a market, system or skill.
Grammar: Used about things that are still developing: an immature market.
Patterns
- immature market
- immature technology
The immature market had few reliable suppliers.
Voice software was still immature a decade ago.
An immature legal system struggled with the case.
Word forms
| comparative | more immature |
|---|---|
| superlative | most immature |
Common combinations
- emotionally immature
- He was emotionally immature for a man of forty.
- immature behavior
- Throwing the controller was immature behavior.
- immature attitude
- Her immature attitude annoyed the team.
- immature fruit
- Immature fruit often tastes sour.
- politically immature
- Critics called the party politically immature.
Synonyms and how they differ
- childish
- Childish is more openly critical and says someone is acting like a small child.
- juvenile
- Juvenile is formal for the young, but as criticism it means silly and unadult.
- undeveloped
- Undeveloped is neutral and describes something that has not finished growing.
- callow
- Callow is a literary word for a young person who is inexperienced and naive.
Opposites
Word family
- immaturity noun
- the state of not being mature
- immaturely adverb
- in a childish way
- mature adjective
- fully grown or sensible
- maturity noun
- full development
Commonly confused: immature or premature?
immature vs premature
Premature means happening too early, such as a premature baby, while immature means not yet developed or sensible.
Practice
She called her brother ______ because he laughed at a serious announcement.
Choose one answer.
Immature describes childish behavior. Premature means too early and does not describe a person's attitude.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “immature”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.