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

One of his earliest photos is of him as an infant being held by former US First Lady Pat Nixon.

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An infant who did not receive many funerary flowers is thus portrayed beneath a dramatic assembly of angels and other heavenly guardians.

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RSV can be dangerous for infants, older adults and people with certain medical conditions, according to the U.S.

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It can overwhelm the body's ability to regulate temperature, increasing the risk of dehydration, heatstroke, cardiovascular stress, and even death - particularly among the elderly, infants and outdoor workers.

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Fire crews were called to a property in Barking Road on Tuesday after two adults, the infant and a six-year-old attended hospital complaining about a smell of chemicals in a flat in Upton Park, Newham.

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Related Words

• child 
• kid 
• newborn 
• toddler