infantry

American  

[in-fuhn-tree] / ˈɪn fən tri /

noun

plural

infantries

1. soldiers or military units that fight on foot, in modern times typically with rifles, machine guns, grenades, mortars, etc., as weapons.

2. a branch of an army composed of such soldiers.

---

infantry British  

/ ˈɪnfəntrɪ /

noun

1. Abbreviation: Inf.   inf. 

   1. soldiers or units of soldiers who fight on foot with small arms

   2. ( as modifier )

      an infantry unit

---

Other Word Forms

• noninfantry noun

Etymology

Origin of infantry

1570–80; < Italian infanteria, equivalent to infante boy, foot-soldier ( see infant) + -ria -ry

Explanation

Armies usually contain different divisions for different purposes. For example, soldiers on horseback belong to the Cavalry, those who work in communications are in the Signal Corps, and soldiers specially trained to fight on foot are members of the Infantry. It seems somewhat strange to have the word "infant" in a word that refers to a fighting military unit, but the word infantry once referred to the foot soldiers who were too young or too inexperienced to qualify for the cavalry. The word was taken from the Latin word for a youth, infantem, and so evolved into infantry after working its way through the Spanish, Italian, and French, appearing in English in the late 16th Century.

Example Sentences

“Most of my military friends are all saying the same thing,” said D’Amico, who is also a former infantry platoon commander in the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

The automaker is expected to be a leading contender to build a larger infantry squad vehicle for the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

George served as an infantry officer in the first Gulf War and in recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

We were wearing matching unit hats: We served in different brigades within the same infantry division.

From Slate • Apr. 1, 2026

During one futile counterattack, “the French infantry made a gallant show, advancing across the Belgian beet fields with colors unfurled and bugles sounding the shrill notes of the ‘charge.’

From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman

Related Words

• infantrymen