infant

1 of 2

noun

in·​fant ˈin-fənt 

1

: a child in the first period of life

2

: a person who is not of full age : minor

infant

2 of 2

adjective

1

: intended for young children

2

: being in an early stage of development

3

: of, relating to, or being in infancy

Synonyms

Noun

• babe
• baby
• bambino
• child
• neonate
• newborn

Examples of infant in a Sentence

Noun

a study of health problems that can affect young infants

He showed us a picture of his infant daughter.

Adjective

She is an infant teacher.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

At least seven infants in Gaza died from hypothermia during Phase 1. —Julia Frankel, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025

Arizona Boy, 10, Dies After Mountain Hike with Family on 113-Degree Day A relative performed CPR on the infant for five minutes before first responders arrived, per the medical examiner. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025

Adjective

Mini Winnie is yet another infant chimp that needs the care of her foster mother. —Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

Spectrum: Are infant wearable companies like Owlet capitalizing on parents’ fear of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), which is still pretty mysterious? —IEEE Spectrum, 10 Feb. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English enfaunt, from Anglo-French enfant, from Latin infant-, infans, from infant-, infans, adjective, incapable of speech, young, from in- + fant-, fans, present participle of fari to speak — more at ban entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

circa 1586, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing infant

• infant mortality
• infant school
• sudden infant death syndrome

Kids Definition

infant

noun

in·​fant

ˈin-fənt

: a child in the first period of life

infant adjective

Medical Definition

infant

noun

in·​fant ˈin-fənt 

1

a

: a child in the first year of life : baby

b

: a child several years of age

2

: a person who is not of full age : minor

infant adjective

Legal Definition

infant

noun

in·​fant ˈin-fənt 

: a person who is not of the age of majority : minor compare adult