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

The observations revealed that these stars didn't form from the same collapsing cloud of gas and dust, as most binary stars are assumed to form, but instead came together later in their infancy. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2026

When Abrahamson entered the legal profession, women were still a small minority, while employment law was in its infancy. — Matt Emma, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026

The researchers also analyzed data from 1,210 girls in the Copenhagen Mother-Child Cohort who were followed from infancy to adolescence; their mothers reported paracetamol use during the third trimester. — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2026

Northside is 2-1 after going 3-17 over the past two seasons, its worst two-year stretch since the program’s infancy in the mid-1960s. — Chip Saye, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026

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