infancy

[in-fuhn-see]

noun

plural

infancies 

1. the state or period of being an infant; very early childhood, usually the period before being able to walk; babyhood.

2. the corresponding period in the existence of anything; very early stage.

   Space science is in its infancy.

3. infants collectively.

4. Law.,  the period of life to the age of majority, 21 years at common law but now usually 18; minority; nonage.

infancy

/ ˈɪnfənsɪ /

noun

1. the state or period of being an infant; childhood

2. an early stage of growth or development

3. infants collectively

4. the period of life prior to attaining legal majority (reached at 21 under common law, at 18 by statute); minority nonage

Word History and Origins

Origin of infancy¹

From the Latin word infantia, dating back to 1485–95. See infant, -cy

Example Sentences

The archival footage is plentiful and a treat: Country legends Merle Travis and Grandpa Jones are seen in their virtual infancy.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Adopted in infancy, Palmer was raised in Silver Lake, her upbringing impacted by her journalist father’s alcoholism and her stay-at-home mother’s religiosity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

A school-aged child in Los Angeles County has died from a rare complication of measles after contracting the disease in infancy, the county public health department announced Thursday.

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Back in the 1980s when the internet was still in its infancy, countries were being handed their own unique website addresses to navigate this nascent new online world.

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One video showed his life from infancy to the present, set to the song Forever Young by Alphaville.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• inception