light infantry
Americannoun
-
foot soldiers with lightweight weapons and minimal field equipment.
-
infantry units with a minimal number of crew-served weapons and other supporting equipment.
Etymology
Origin of light infantry
First recorded in 1840–50
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Satellite images appear to show that the ship was carrying the kind of trucks, armoured personnel carriers and light infantry vehicles seen in Bamako, according to experts.
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
They intend to add M-10 battalions to their light infantry brigade combat teams, including airborne units.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 17, 2023
Under the new Army plan, the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, now based in Alaska, would be converted to a light infantry brigade.
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2022
“He’s used to a different kind of lifestyle,” Powell replied, “and I’m not quite sure he would be up to being chased around the countryside by Army Rangers, Special Forces and light infantry units.”
From Washington Post ● Oct. 18, 2021
Were the marines being sent as well as the grenadiers and light infantry companies?
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
