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

Derived Forms

• ˈinfantˌhood, noun

Other Words From

• in·fant·hood noun
• in·fant·like 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

This seemed like a significant switch from the third season, which closed with him sending her off to London to pursue a promotion within the Supreme Vampiric Council while he essentially became a stay-at-home dad to a newly regenerated infant version of Colin Robinson.

From Salon

Black mothers also shoulder a far greater burden of the maternal and infant mortality crisis.

From Salon

"That's the typical recommendation that we have for any medication or substance if we don't know what the cause and effects of it are on maternal and infant health," said Dr. Kathleen Chaput, a researcher at the University of Calgary who studies substance use and pregnancy.

From Salon

Black mothers are particularly subject to this intersection of drug policy and maternal and infant health.

From Salon

But it was, and the fallout since — an increase in infant deaths and pregnant women dying from fetal complications experts say abortion care could have prevented — has been immense.

From Salon

Related Words

• child
• kid
• newborn
• toddler