infant

[in-fuhnt]

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

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of infant¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of infant¹

C14: from Latin infāns, literally: speechless, from _in- ¹ + fārī to speak

Example Sentences

Dr Andrew Lee, regional deputy director of the UK Health Security Agency in Yorkshire and the Humber, said this was because infants were most at risk of contracting the illness.

Read more on BBC

Renowned as a queen of literary horror — her stories brim with ghosts, werewolves, zombie infants — here she reveals a realist side, journalistic yet intimate.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant, he spent his first three months at a public hospital where the family lives in Orange County.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Anderson tracks the group through a few more organized missions before things go left, leaving Perfidia in government custody and Bob fleeing with their infant daughter, Willa.

Read more on Salon

The infants, both unnamed females, are bonding with their mothers, they said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• child 
• kid 
• newborn 
• toddler