What does immature mean?
Immature means not yet fully grown, developed, or able to exercise mature judgment. The word is commonly applied to children or young people whose behavior seems childish, impulsive, or unsuitable for their age, but it can also describe adults who act irresponsibly. In a biological or physical context, immature refers to something that has not completed its development, such as fruit that is not yet ripe or an organism that has not reached maturity. The term often carries a critical or disapproving tone, especially when it describes conduct rather than a stage of development. Its historical connection with the idea of fruit that is not ready helps explain the modern sense of a person who is still developing emotionally or socially.
adjectiveNot fully developed physically, mentally, or emotionally; lacking the maturity appropriate to one's age, experience, or stage of development.
- Lacking physical, emotional, or intellectual development appropriate to one's age or circumstances
- Behaviorally childish, impulsive, or lacking sound judgment
- Not fully developed or mature in a broader physical or biological sense
"His impulsive and immature behavior made it difficult for him to handle the responsibilities of the job."
"The film was criticized for depicting its young characters as immature and self-absorbed."
"The grapes are still immature and should not be picked until they have ripened."
Immature literally means 'not ripe' or 'not ready': the word began by describing fruit that had not matured and later came to describe people who had not yet grown up.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does immature come from?
Immature comes from Latin immaturus, formed from the negative prefix in- and maturus, meaning 'ripe' or 'developed.' In English, it was used for fruit or other things that were not yet mature before being extended to people and their behavior. The related English word mature and its derivatives come from the same Latin root, while premature was formed from Latin praematurus, meaning 'too early' or 'unseasonably ripe.'
Related word forms
How immature is actually used
Often used to describe behavior, judgment, or emotional development, especially in reference to young people. It can be dismissive or insulting when applied to adults, so it is often better to describe the specific immature behavior rather than label a person directly.
Easily confused with immature
Premature usually describes something that occurs earlier than expected, whereas immature describes someone or something that has not fully developed or lacks appropriate judgment.