immature

adjective

im·​ma·​ture ˌi-mə-ˈchu̇r How to pronounce immature (audio) -ˈtu̇r How to pronounce immature (audio)
-ˈtyu̇r
1
a
: exhibiting less than an expected degree of maturity
emotionally immature adults
b
: lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development
immature fruits
a sexually immature bird
c
: having the potential capacity to attain a definitive form or state : crude, unfinished
a vigorous but immature school of art
2
archaic : premature
immature noun
immaturely adverb
immaturity
ˌi-mə-ˈchu̇r-ə-tē How to pronounce immature (audio)
-ˈtu̇r-
-ˈtyu̇r-
noun

Examples of immature in a Sentence

The flock included both adult and immature birds. His teachers have complained about his immature behavior.
Recent Examples on the Web Cal, like many newborns, had an immature liver, leading to jaundice. Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 17 Mar. 2024 Their game-changing discoveries will result in a massive cover story in a glitzy magazine, the many years of their Ph.D. research solving the mystery of colony collapse disorder — when worker bees exit a honey bee colony, leaving the queen with food and nurse bees to care for the immature bees. David John Chávez, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2024 See it Only one immature Andaman shortnose chimaera was found, and the male measured 20 inches in length, the study said. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 Many of the few eagles who reside here are tagged, but this one was not, and the tail was streaked with black, not yet pure white, suggesting an immature age of 4 to 5 years. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Feb. 2024 Everyone is exhausted with the fear-mongering and immature social media bickering of most politicians these days. Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Feb. 2024 To me, though, these men seem crude or unintelligent, entitled and immature. Anna Holmes, The New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2024 Reiner lives in their heads rent-free despite his immoral and immature mangling of fairy-tale morality. Armond White, National Review, 21 Feb. 2024 The immune system of a newborn is extremely immature, and a literal immune boost from colostrum can directly provide antibodies from the mother. Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 15 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'immature.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin immaturus, from in- + maturus mature

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of immature was in 1548

Dictionary Entries Near immature

Cite this Entry

“Immature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/immature. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

immature

adjective
im·​ma·​ture ˌim-ə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r How to pronounce immature (audio)
1
: not mature or fully developed : young, unripe
an immature bird
immature fruit
2
: showing less than an expected degree of maturity
immature behavior
immaturely adverb

Medical Definition

immature

adjective
im·​ma·​ture
ˌim-ə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r also -ˈchu̇(ə)r
: lacking complete growth, differentiation, or development
immature blood cells
emotionally immature
immaturely adverb
immaturity
-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət-ē also -ˈchu̇r-
noun
plural immaturities

More from Merriam-Webster on immature

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