infantlike

Infantlike is an adjective describing something that resembles an infant or evokes infancy. The term combines the noun infant with the suffix -like and has been used in English since the early modern period. It can refer to physical features commonly associated with infancy, such as small size, rounded contours, or delicate facial proportions, as well as behaviors that resemble those of infants, including dependence or a preference for caregiver-like responses.

In use, infantlike appears across fields such as anthropology, developmental psychology, medicine, and art criticism. In art and literature, infantlike imagery can be employed to convey vulnerability, innocence, or dependency. In biological or zoological contexts, the term may describe juvenile traits or developmental stages that resemble those of an infant, although more technical terms (such as neoteny) may be used for precision.

Distinctions: Infantlike should not be confused with infantile. Infantile often carries a negative judgment related to immaturity or childishness, whereas infantlike is a neutral descriptive term that denotes resemblance to infancy.

See also: infant, infancy, neoteny, juvenile, babyish.