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

She said she was unsure if she’d have to pick up multiple jobs to make ends meet — and if so, who would be able to care for her infant.

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At the time, Clarke’s dad was working as a sheep farmer and would drive the family “from sheep shed to sheep shed” while his wife cared for their infant son in the cramped family abode.

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For decades, parents were advised to avoid feeding common allergens, such as peanuts, to infants.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

This week, the Broad Institute gene-sequencing lab said it read infants’ DNA genomes in less than four hours, cutting an hour off the previous Guinness World Record.

Read more on Barron's

Still, the stock was down 3.7% on Wednesday, although shares of the company, which sells medical devices, diagnostics, and adult and infant nutrition brands, among other products, have risen 14% this year.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• child 
• kid 
• newborn 
• toddler