infancy
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
the time when a person is a baby, usually before they can walk or talk.
the earliest period of childhood, typically preceding the development of walking and speech.
Simple“The doctor asked about the child's health during his infancy.”
In context“Research suggests that the bonds formed during infancy have a profound impact on emotional stability in later adult life.”
UsageUncountable when referring to the state; countable when referring to a specific period.
Synonymsbabyhoodearly childhoodAntonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the very beginning stage of a new idea, invention, or business.
the initial stage of development or existence of an abstract entity, technology, or organisation.
Simple“Space tourism is still in its infancy and costs a lot of money.”
In context“While the technology was in its infancy, early adopters faced frequent system crashes and limited functionality.”
UsageCommonly used in the prepositional phrase 'in its infancy'.
- 03 C1 Advanced
the legal state of being a child or under the age of full responsibility.
the state of being a minor in the eyes of the law, lacking full legal capacity.
Simple“The contract was not valid because of the defendant's infancy at the time.”
In context“The court ruled that the agreement was voidable due to the party's infancy, as they had not yet reached the age of majority.”
UsageUsed as an uncountable noun in legal proceedings.
“But this summer I took a trip back to my old hometown for their Pride festival, a tradition still in its infancy.”
“More screen time during infancy and around the start of school was linked to poorer academic performance and weaker working memory years later.”
From Middle English infancie, from Latin īnfantia (“infancy, early childhood; childishness”), equivalent to infant + -cy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.