# infancy

/ˈɪnfənsi/ (US) · /ˈɪnfənsˌi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/infancy
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. early childhood

noun · CEFR B2

the time when a person is a baby, usually before they can walk or talk.

For teachers: the earliest period of childhood, typically preceding the development of walking and speech.

- The doctor asked about the child's health during his infancy.
- Research suggests that the bonds formed during infancy have a profound impact on emotional stability in later adult life.

Usage: Uncountable when referring to the state; countable when referring to a specific period.

### 2. early development

noun · CEFR B2

the very beginning stage of a new idea, invention, or business.

For teachers: the initial stage of development or existence of an abstract entity, technology, or organisation.

- Space tourism is still in its infancy and costs a lot of money.
- While the technology was in its infancy, early adopters faced frequent system crashes and limited functionality.

Usage: Commonly used in the prepositional phrase 'in its infancy'.

### 3. legal minority

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

the legal state of being a child or under the age of full responsibility.

For teachers: the state of being a minor in the eyes of the law, lacking full legal capacity.

- The contract was not valid because of the defendant's infancy at the time.
- The court ruled that the agreement was voidable due to the party's infancy, as they had not yet reached the age of majority.

Usage: Used as an uncountable noun in legal proceedings.

## Examples

- The new technology is still in its infancy.
- During the company's infancy, the founders worked out of a small garage without any outside funding.
- While the legal framework for space mining is in its infancy, international bodies are already debating how to distribute potential lunar resources fairly.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.