Word
infantry
Phoneticsin·fantry
US/ˈɪnfəntɹi/
UK/ˈɪnfəntɹˌi/
Definitions
01soldiers on foot
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Military
n. soldiers who are trained to fight on foot on the ground.
n. the branch of an army that fights on foot, distinguished from cavalry, artillery, or armoured units.
Español:infantería
“The infantry marched for three days to reach the edge of the forest.”
“Modern infantry units are often transported by helicopter or armoured vehicle, yet their primary role remains engaging the enemy on foot.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable collective noun or as a modifier before another noun.
Synonyms
02children
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Humorous · Informal
n. a funny way to talk about a group of babies or small children.
n. a humorous, colloquial application of the military term to refer to infants or young children.
“We need to clear the toys off the floor before the infantry arrives for the party.”
“The quiet afternoon was abruptly terminated by the arrival of the local infantry, as six toddlers burst into the garden screaming.”
Teaching tip
This is a play on the word 'infant'. It is rarely used in serious writing and is mostly found in lighthearted conversation.
Real-World Examples
“The airborne infantry division is focused on parachute assaults.” “Robots are increasingly taking a key role in combat and replacing human infantry.” “It’s 1946 and infantry officer Philip Deval, who saw action in Normandy, is deployed to the Holy Land to take part in maintaining Britain’s mandate in Palestine.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/infantry
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0