infrastructure

noun

in·​fra·​struc·​ture ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chər 

-(ˌ)frä-

1

: the system of public works of a country, state, or region

also : the resources (such as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity

2

: the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)

3

: the permanent installations required for military purposes

infrastructural

ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chə-rəl  -ˌstrək-shrəl 

-(ˌ)frä-

adjective

Did you know?

Infra- means "below;" so the infrastructure is the "underlying structure" of a country and its economy, the fixed installations that it needs in order to function. These include roads, bridges, dams, the water and sewer systems, railways and subways, airports, and harbors. These are generally government-built and publicly owned. Some people also speak about such things as the intellectual infrastructure or the infrastructure of science research, but the meaning of such notions can be extremely vague.

Synonyms

• architecture
• armature
• cadre
• configuration
• edifice
• fabric
• frame
• framework
• framing
• shell
• skeleton
• structure

Examples of infrastructure in a Sentence

More money is needed to save the crumbling infrastructure of the nation's rural areas.

We need to spend more money on maintaining and repairing infrastructure.

Recent Examples on the Web

Owners of non-Teslas will then be able to benefit from Tesla's convenient and extensive charging infrastructure. —Morgan Korn, ABC News, 1 Jan. 2025

As part of the infrastructure projects in preparation for the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, according to Cantrell, the bollards have been in the process of being replaced and were ineffective for the New Year’s Eve celebration due to construction that was scheduled to be completed before the Super Bowl. —Gabrielle M. Etzel, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 1 Jan. 2025

Sovereign credit ratings function as valves on private credit flows giving CRAs access to the whole economy—through governments to national banks, insurance companies, enterprises and infrastructure projects. —Ann Rutledge, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

The initiative aims to boost trade and economic connectivity across Asia, Europe and beyond, through infrastructure development and investment in transportation networks, according to the World Economic Forum. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

infrastructure

noun

in·​fra·​struc·​ture ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chər 

1

: the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)

2

: the system of public works of a country, state, or region

also : the resources (as people, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity