Word
infant
Phoneticsin·fant, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɪnfənt/
UK/ˈɪnfənt/
Definitions
01a baby
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
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.
日本語:赤ちゃん※
“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.”
Antonyms
02a legal minor
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical · Formal
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.
“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.
03a young student
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun British English
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.
“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.
Synonyms
04early stage
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.
“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.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “infant” in context.
Verb
01. immunize the infant
“It is crucial to immunize the infant against common childhood diseases according to the schedule.”
verb + noun
02. soothe a crying infant
“The father tried to soothe the crying infant by rocking him gently back and forth.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. newborn infant
“The nurses carefully monitored the newborn infant in the neonatal unit.”
adj + noun
04. premature infant
“A premature infant often requires specialized medical care to support lung development.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. infant formula
“If breastfeeding is not an option, parents can use fortified infant formula.”
noun + noun
06. infant mortality
“The government is implementing new policies to reduce the rate of infant mortality.”
noun + noun
07. infant school
“In the UK, children typically attend an infant school from the ages of five to seven.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“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.” “The MMRV vaccine - which replaced the MMR vaccine in January 2026 - offers infants protection against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.” Etymology
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.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Idioms
- 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 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/infant
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0