infantry
n. uncountablen. the part of an army that fights on foot. These soldiers use rifles and other small weapons rather than tanks or planes.
n. the branch of a military force that engages in combat on foot. Often used collectively to refer to the soldiers themselves.
The infantry marched through the valley at dawn.
Military commanders often rely on the infantry to secure and hold territory that vehicles cannot easily reach.
Modern warfare has evolved significantly, yet the role of the light infantry remains vital for navigating dense urban environments where heavy armor is a liability.
From Middle French infanterie, from older Italian, possibly from Spanish infantería (“foot soldiers, force composed of those too inexperienced or low in rank for cavalry”), from infante (“foot soldier”), originally "a youth", either way from Latin īnfāns (“child”); see there for more.
Typically functions as a collective noun; it can take a singular or plural verb depending on whether the focus is the unit or the individuals.