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

Recording was done on wax when pop music was in its infancy stage. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026

In an era when the internet was still in its infancy, Starcow distinguished itself by sourcing, importing and selling exclusive products not distributed in France, giving an entire generation access to rare fashion items. —Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 11 Feb. 2026

The transformation of Los Angeles, from a destination for people in need of a fresh start into a place of glamour, was in its infancy. —CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026

The findings, published Monday in Nature Neuroscience, may help doctors and researchers better understand cognitive development in infancy. —Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Feb. 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