infant

1 of 2

noun

in·​fant ˈin-fənt 

1

: a child in the first period of life

2

: a person who is not of full age : minor

infant

2 of 2

adjective

1

: intended for young children

infant clothes

2

: being in an early stage of development

an infant industry

3

: of, relating to, or being in infancy

Synonyms of infant

Noun

• child
• baby
• newborn
• toddler

Examples of infant in a Sentence

Noun

a study of health problems that can affect young infants

He showed us a picture of his infant daughter.

Adjective

She is an infant teacher.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Even though these children were toddlers, infants or not even born when the pandemic began, experts say that the disruption has had long-lasting repercussions. —Stacker, Hartford Courant, 9 May 2026

Arenas has been outspoken in her efforts to reform child welfare following high-profile deaths of children under county supervision, including the fentanyl overdose of infant Phoenix Castro and, most recently, the death of 2-year-old Jaxon Juarez. —Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 9 May 2026

Adjective

Thorsen helped lead research for the CDC studying infant disabilities, according to prosecutors. —Sasha Pezenik, ABC News, 8 May 2026

For decades, research into RSV had been stymied by past failures, leaving no way to prevent the thousands of infant respiratory deaths that occur worldwide every year. —Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English enfaunt, from Anglo-French enfant, from Latin infant-, infans, from infant-, infans, adjective, incapable of speech, young, from in- + fant-, fans, present participle of fari to speak — more at ban entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1581, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing infant

• infant mortality
• infant school
• sudden infant death syndrome

Kids Definition

infant

noun

in·​fant

ˈin-fənt

: a child in the first period of life

infant adjective

Medical Definition

infant

noun

in·​fant ˈin-fənt 

1

a

: a child in the first year of life : baby

b

: a child several years of age

2

: a person who is not of full age : minor

infant adjective

Legal Definition

infant

noun

in·​fant ˈin-fənt 

: a person who is not of the age of majority : minor compare adult