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

Urban infill is highly lucrative; in Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood alone, there is an easily achievable $100 million in development value annually sitting solely in empty lots. —Stephanie Tharpe, Forbes.com, 29 May 2026

Adding accessory dwelling units or building a multi-home, infill development is about to get a little more expensive in some of Carlsbad’s older neighborhoods. —Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2026

Almost all projects must be infill, and many residents are resistant to the change. —Mercury News Editorial Board, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

The code prioritizes infill development on existing lots, which may include an existing house, and typically limited to three or fewer units. —Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1939, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for infill

• sinful