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View synonyms for

infant

[ in-fuhnt ]

noun

  1. a child during the earliest period of their life, especially before they can walk; baby.
  2. Law. a person who is not of full age, especially one who has not reached the age of 18 years; a minor.
  3. a beginner, as in experience or learning; novice:

    The new candidate is a political infant.

  4. anything in the first stage of existence or progress.


adjective

  1. of or relating to infants or infancy:

    infant years.

  2. being in infancy:

    an infant king.

  3. being in the earliest stage:

    an infant industry.

  4. of or relating to the legal state of infancy; minor.

infant

/ ˈɪԴəԳ /

noun

  1. a child at the earliest stage of its life; baby
  2. law another word for minor
  3. a young schoolchild, usually under the age of seven
  4. a person who is beginning or inexperienced in an activity
  5. modifier
    1. of or relating to young children or infancy
    2. designed or intended for young children
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. in an early stage of development; nascent

    an infant science or industry

  2. law of or relating to the legal status of infancy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈԴڲԳˌǴǻ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • ·ڲԳ·Ǵǻ noun
  • ·ڲԳ· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of infant1

First recorded in 1350–1400; from Latin infant- (stem of ԴԲ ) “small child,” literally, “one unable to speak,” equivalent to in- in- 3 + -Բ, present participle of ī “to speak”; replacing Middle English enfaunt, from Anglo-French, from Latin, as above
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Word History and Origins

Origin of infant1

C14: from Latin ԴԲ, literally: speechless, from in- 1+ ī to speak
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The other two are named Romulus and Remus, after the mythical founders of Rome said to have been suckled by a she-wolf as infants.

From

Promoting infant milk substitutes or feeding bottles to pregnant women or mothers can lead to up to three years in jail or a 5,000-rupee fine.

From

The skeletons of two children have also been found - a surprisingly small number given the high infant mortality of the time.

From

The species is endangered, and infants require constant, skilled care to survive.

From

Commentators sometimes compare dictators to Herod, the king who ordered the massacre of children in his quest to kill the infant Christ.

From

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