Meaning & use
man-child
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabledisapproving
An adult man who behaves in an immature or childlike way, often avoiding adult responsibilities.
Grammar: Countable: one man-child, two man-children. Often used with a disapproving tone.
Patterns
- a man-child
- act like a man-child
- live like a man-child
He still lives with his parents and plays video games all day; his friends call him a man-child.
The movie is about a man-child who finally learns to take care of himself.
She was tired of dating man-children who never did their own laundry.
Word forms
| plural | man-children |
|---|
Common combinations
- act like a man-child
- He acts like a man-child whenever he doesn't get his way.
- a typical man-child
- He's a typical man-child: no job, no plans, and no shame.
- man-child behavior
- Her brother's man-child behavior embarrassed the whole family.
Synonyms and how they differ
- overgrown child
- Similar meaning but more general; can refer to any adult who acts immaturely, not just a man.
- immature man
- A neutral phrase that describes the same behavior without the strong disapproving label of 'man-child'.
Opposites
Word family
- manchildish adjective
- Rare; describes behavior typical of a man-child.
Commonly confused: man-child or man of the house?
man-child vs man of the house
This means the adult male responsible for a household, not someone immature.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'man-child' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A man-child is an adult man who acts immaturely and avoids adult responsibilities, so refusing to work and depending on parents fits. The other options describe responsible behavior, a literal child, or a physical trait, which do not match the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “man-child”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.