infill

noun

in·​fill ˈin-ˌfil 

1

: material that fills in something (such as a hole or the spaces between a building's structural members)

volcanic infill

fiberglass infill

The artificial turf being used contains infill that is made from recycled tires …

—Greg Fitzpatrick

It's framed with hand-hewn cypress posts and beams, though instead of … brick infill … the walls are formed from … a mixture of mud, moss, and animal hair that was once used by native Americans living in the area.

—Amy R. Hughes

2

: new buildings constructed in the space available between existing structures

Urban infill, a big theme these days in city planning, is essentially the opposite of "urban sprawl." As cities grow, planners are looking for ways to pack more people into places that are already developed.

—Franklyn Cater

—often used before another noun

St. Louis must be the infill capital of the nation. Liberally scattered over the city, especially in the older parts, you see clumps and blocks of new apartments, condominia and row houses tucked in among centenarian neighbors.

—E. F. Porter

infill housing

infill verb, transitive + intransitive

infilled; infilling

… it was easier to achieve the vaults themselves by building them of a framework of ribs infilled with webs.

—James F. O'Gorman

Stump holes can be expected to infill with material from the pit walls and immediate vicinity …

—Jonathan D. Phillips et al.

Examples of infill in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are also grass-specific metrics (such as moisture and shear strength) and artificial turf-specific metrics (such as infill depth), that the league keeps an eye on. —Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019

That said, California still has a housing shortage, and state policy is to encourage infill projects in or near cities rather than developing open spaces, which California Forever would do. —Dan Walters, The Mercury News, 27 July 2024

My experience as a former council member dealing with infill development projects will guide my focus on finishing development in the Target Plaza and downtown areas, which are strategic priorities. —Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024

The redevelopment proposal could become an example for San Jose as other infill project proposals emerge. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 21 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 1