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 first of his children died in infancy, in 1387, as did about half of all babies born in Florence during this era. —Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2025

In the years since, Tiger players and staff have rubbed the rock nearly 450 times, but the tradition nearly died in infancy when the school added locker rooms near the stadium’s west end zone before the 1971 season. —Elizabeth Hutchison Hicklin, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2025

Teacher housing programs are still in their infancy. —Jeff Kruth, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2025

Swain and the Houlihan Lokey team view the area, still in its infancy, as a huge field for lucrative fundraising and investment-banking business. —Shawn Tully, Fortune, 1 Nov. 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