infant
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a very young child, usually from birth until they start to walk.
n.a human being in the earliest stage of life, typically from birth to approximately two years of age.
Simple“The infant slept peacefully in the crib while her parents watched.”
In context“Medical professionals emphasize that an infant requires consistent sensory stimulation and nutritional support for healthy brain development.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a person who is not yet an adult in the eyes of the law.
n.a person under the age of legal majority. This sense is primarily used in legal contexts to describe someone who lacks full legal capacity.
Simple“The law protects the rights of the infant in cases of inheritance.”
In context“In many jurisdictions, a contract signed by an infant is voidable at their discretion upon reaching the age of majority.”
UsageIn legal English, 'infant' refers to any person under 18 or 21, not just a baby.
Teacher's tipAdvise students that this is a specialized legal term; in everyday conversation, 'minor' is the standard word for someone under the legal age.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a child in the first few years of school, usually between ages four and seven.
n.a pupil attending an infant school or the first stage of primary education.
Simple“The school playground was divided into areas for the infants and the older children.”
In context“The national curriculum for infants focuses heavily on foundational literacy and numeracy through play-based learning.”
UsageOften used in the plural to refer to a specific school department.
Synonymspupilschoolchild - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describing something that is in its very beginning stages.
adj.pertaining to the earliest stage of development or a beginning state.
Simple“The company is still in its infant stages and has only three employees.”
In context“The infant industry required significant government subsidies to survive against established international competitors.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies.
SynonymsAntonyms
“Gartshore had earlier been drinking while she had been in sole charge of the infant.”
“The clinic - which serves a relatively poor community - has vaccinated hundreds of infants since 2023, helping to boost coverage in an area that's historically had a low rate of immunisations.”
Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.