infant

[in-fuh nt]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR infant ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a child during the earliest period of its life, especially before he or she can walk; baby.

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

a beginner, as in experience or learning; novice: The new candidate is a political infant.

anything in the first stage of existence or progress.

adjective

of or relating to infants or infancy: infant years.

being in infancy: an infant king.

being in the earliest stage: an infant industry.

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

Origin of infant

1350–1400; < 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 < Anglo-French < Latin, as above

Related formsin·fant·hood, nounin·fant·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for infant

newborn, toddler, kid, child, suckling, babe, bambino, bundle, tot, bairn, neonate, bantling

Examples from the Web for infant

Contemporary Examples of infant

Within six days, however, the infant was admitted to a pediatric hospital with diarrhea, bluish skin, and respiratory failure.
Are Water Births Toxic to Babies?
Brandy Zadrozny
December 12, 2014
Increased access to reproductive healthcare has resulted in better maternal and infant health outcomes.
What Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff Can Teach Hillary Clinton
Heather Arnet
October 29, 2014
Two bowls were set before the infant—one containing gold and jewels, the other hot coals.
Jon Stewart and 'Meet The Press' Would Have Been One Unhappy Marriage
Lloyd Grove
October 9, 2014
An infant too young to have received his first round of shots gasps for air after having been infected with pertussis.
Hey Anti-Vaxxers, Watch NOVA: Vaccines--Calling the Shots
Russell Saunders
September 11, 2014
Next door is a shop selling fake vintage Ramones cover T-shirts and infant onesises.
New York's Sexiest Kosher Corsets
Emily Shire
August 20, 2014

Historical Examples of infant

I was with him when he died, but knew not the hour he departed, for he sunk to rest like an infant.
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
He led America out of revolutionary victory into infant nationhood.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
Even while he was an infant in the cradle a strange accident had befallen hum.
Biographical Stories
Nathaniel Hawthorne
This may happen if her own son be an infant, or very far off, or if she have no son.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. II
Francis Augustus Cox
Even when an infant, and in your cradle, you had a soul for poetry.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 15, July 9, 1870
Various

British Dictionary definitions for infant

infant

noun

a child at the earliest stage of its life; baby

law another word for minor (def. 10)

British a young schoolchild, usually under the age of seven

a person who is beginning or inexperienced in an activity

(modifier)

of or relating to young children or infancy
designed or intended for young children

adjective

in an early stage of development; nascentan infant science or industry

law of or relating to the legal status of infancy

Derived Formsinfanthood, noun

Word Origin for infant

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for infant

late 14c., "child during earliest period of life" (sometimes extended to age 7 and sometimes including a fetus), from Latin infantem (nominative infans) "young child, babe in arms," noun use of adjective meaning "not able to speak," from in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + fans, present participle of fari "speak" (see fame (n.)). As an adjective, 1580s, from the noun.

infant in Medicine

infant

[ĭn′fənt]

n.

A child in the earliest period of life, especially before he or she can walk.