infant

American  

[in-fuhnt] / ˈɪn fənt /

noun

1. a child during the earliest period of their life, especially before they can walk; baby.

2. Law.  a person who is not of full age, especially one who has not reached the age of 18 years; a minor.

3. a beginner, as in experience or learning; novice.

   The new candidate is a political infant.

4. anything in the first stage of existence or progress.

---

adjective

1. of or relating to infants or infancy.

   infant years.

2. being in infancy.

   an infant king.

3. being in the earliest stage.

   an infant industry.

4. of or relating to the legal state of infancy; minor.

infant British  

/ ˈɪnfənt /

noun

1. a child at the earliest stage of its life; baby

2. law another word for minor

3. a young schoolchild, usually under the age of seven

4. a person who is beginning or inexperienced in an activity

5. (modifier)

   1. of or relating to young children or infancy

   2. designed or intended for young children

---

adjective

1. in an early stage of development; nascent

   an infant science or industry

2. law of or relating to the legal status of infancy

Other Word Forms

• infanthood noun
• infantlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of infant

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin infant- (stem of infāns ) “small child,” literally, “one unable to speak,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + -fāns, present participle of fārī “to speak”; replacing Middle English enfaunt, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above

Example Sentences

A girl named Sham was born in Gaza in November 2023 and survived smoke poisoning as an infant.

From Salon

The researchers found that infants who suffer severe RSV infections in their first months of life are more likely to develop immune responses that overreact to common allergens, including house dust mites.

From Science Daily

Its assertion that “studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism” is a travesty of the scientific method.

From Los Angeles Times

Alcohol-free beer or wine, infant formula, drinks sold as powder and cocktails or mocktails served in an open container also don't fall within the scope of the sugar tax.

From BBC

Now it explains: “The claim ‘vaccines do not cause autism’ is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• child
• kid
• newborn
• toddler