infantry

noun

in·​fan·​try ˈin-fən-trē 

plural infantries

1

a

: soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot

b

: a branch of an army composed of these soldiers

2

: an infantry regiment or division

Did you know?

The Italian word fante (from Latin infans, “infant, child”) originally meant “child,” later “youth, boy,” and then “servant.” In the 14th century, fante also took on the sense “foot soldier.” In Renaissance times, the fanteria, foot soldiers collectively, became a significant branch of arms, and the Italian word infanteria, was borrowed into English in the 1500s.

Examples of infantry in a Sentence

He joined the infantry after leaving school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Elsewhere in Ukraine, gains by Kyiv were reported in the northern Kharkiv region amid a Russian operation that saw Moscow's troops attack north of the regional capital of the same name with small infantry groups, rather than armored vehicles. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024

Outfitted with Russian uniforms and equipment, the troops have received training in a number of military functions, including artillery, infantry tactics and mine-clearing. —Katya Soldak, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

An infantry unit of 19-year old soldiers who were on routine patrol in the area exchanged fire with three armed militants and killed them. —Barak Ravid, Axios, 17 Oct. 2024

The Golani Brigade is regarded as an elite Israeli infantry unit and has been deployed to southern Lebanon as part of Israel’s ground operation there. —Ivana Kottasová, CNN, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French infanterie, from Old Italian infanteria, from infante boy, foot soldier, from Latin infant-, infans

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

infantry

noun

in·​fan·​try ˈin-fən-trē 

plural infantries

: a branch of an army made up of soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot

Etymology

from early French infanterie and early Italian infanteria, both meaning "infantry," from early Italian infante "infant, boy, foot soldier," from Latin infans "infant"

Word Origin

In the Middle Ages in France, a young soldier from a good family who was not yet a knight was called enfant, which means "child." Likewise, in Italy a soldier moving on foot behind a knight riding a horse was an infante. Later, Italian foot soldiers as a group became known as infanteria, which was borrowed into French as infanterie and into English as infantry.