Word
Definitions
01public systems and services
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Academic
n. the basic systems a country needs, like roads, bridges, water pipes, and electricity.
n. the physical and organisational facilities, such as transport and communication networks, necessary for the functioning of a society.
“The government is spending more money to repair the city's aging infrastructure.”
“Significant investment in public infrastructure, particularly high-speed rail and digital connectivity, is essential for long-term economic growth in the region.”
Usage
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the general system of a country.
Synonyms
02internal foundation
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic · Formal
n. the internal parts or foundation of a system or organization.
n. the underlying base or framework of a system, organization, or building.
Español:infraestructura
“The company needs to improve its IT infrastructure before it can hire more staff.”
“The existing corporate infrastructure proved inadequate for the rapid scaling required by the new international merger.”
Usage
Can be used countably to refer to specific technical or organizational setups.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “infrastructure” in context.
Verb
01. improve the infrastructure
“The government has promised to improve the infrastructure to support the growing population.”
verb + noun
02. invest in infrastructure
“Developing nations need to invest in infrastructure to attract foreign businesses.”
verb + prep + noun
03. modernize the existing infrastructure
“The city plans to modernize the existing infrastructure rather than building everything from scratch.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
04. critical infrastructure
“Cybersecurity is essential for protecting critical infrastructure like power grids and water systems.”
adj + noun
05. crumbling infrastructure
“The mayor was criticized for the city's crumbling infrastructure and potholed roads.”
adj + noun
06. inadequate infrastructure
“Economic growth was hindered by inadequate infrastructure in the rural provinces.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. infrastructure project
“The new high-speed rail link is the largest infrastructure project in the country's history.”
noun + noun
08. investment in infrastructure
“A significant investment in infrastructure is required to transition to renewable energy.”
noun + prep + noun
09. infrastructure the country
Real-World Examples
“Last winter, Russia caused up to $70bn of damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, and nearly succeeded in plunging Kyiv into darkness.” “The developments follow Russian attacks a day earlier that damaged port infrastructure and caused power cuts in Izmail, a vital export hub on the Danube River near the Romanian border.” “Water companies have been given the green light to increase bills for customers by an extra £3.4bn in coming years to meet increased pressures on infrastructure and the environment.” “It’s putting enormous pressure on our infrastructure, our railways, our schools, our hospitals, and it threatens a real impact on people’s living standards.” Etymology
Borrowed from French infrastructure, equivalent to infra- + structure.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/infrastructure
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0