# infant

/ˈɪnfənt/ (US) · /ˈɪnfənt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/infant
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a baby

noun · CEFR B1

a very young child, usually from birth until they start to walk.

For teachers: a human being in the earliest stage of life, typically from birth to approximately two years of age.

- The infant slept peacefully in the crib while her parents watched.
- Medical professionals emphasize that an infant requires consistent sensory stimulation and nutritional support for healthy brain development.

### 2. a legal minor

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · Formal

a person who is not yet an adult in the eyes of the law.

For teachers: a person under the age of legal majority. This sense is primarily used in legal contexts to describe someone who lacks full legal capacity.

- The law protects the rights of the infant in cases of inheritance.
- In many jurisdictions, a contract signed by an infant is voidable at their discretion upon reaching the age of majority.

Usage: In legal English, 'infant' refers to any person under 18 or 21, not just a baby.

Teaching tip: Advise students that this is a specialized legal term; in everyday conversation, 'minor' is the standard word for someone under the legal age.

### 3. a young student

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a child in the first few years of school, usually between ages four and seven.

For teachers: a pupil attending an infant school or the first stage of primary education.

- The school playground was divided into areas for the infants and the older children.
- The national curriculum for infants focuses heavily on foundational literacy and numeracy through play-based learning.

Usage: Often used in the plural to refer to a specific school department.

### 4. early stage

adjective · CEFR B2

describing something that is in its very beginning stages.

For teachers: pertaining to the earliest stage of development or a beginning state.

- The company is still in its infant stages and has only three employees.
- The infant industry required significant government subsidies to survive against established international competitors.

Usage: Usually placed before the noun it modifies.

## Examples

- The nurse carefully weighed the infant during the checkup.
- Medical professionals often use the term infant to describe a child from birth up to one year of age.
- While the common definition refers to a baby, the legal status of an infant historically granted certain protections to any individual who had not yet reached adulthood.

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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.