infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən(t)-sē 

plural infancies

1

: early childhood

2

: a beginning or early period of existence

3

: the legal status of an infant

Examples of infancy in a Sentence

She was often sick during her infancy.

a skill developed in infancy

She has been a member of the church since its infancy.

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s because design work — like most innovation — is fragile in its infancy. —Dave Winsborough, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

Especially in early infancy, crying is a primary mode of communication, designed to elicit a response. —New Atlas, 2 July 2025

When the court issued the 2004 decision, high-speed internet, social media and smartphones were all in their infancy. —Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 28 June 2025

The market is still very much in its infancy and regulatory barriers remain that can impede widescale adoption. —Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 21 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing infancy

• in one's infancy

Kids Definition

infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē 

plural infancies

1

: early childhood

2

: a beginning or early period of existence

Medical Definition

infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē 

plural infancies

1

: early childhood

2

: the legal status of an infant

Legal Definition

infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē 

plural infancies

1

: the legal status of an infant : minority

2

: the affirmative defense of lacking legal capacity (as to make a contract or commit a crime) because of being too young and especially because one's age is below an age set by statute