What does infant mean?
An infant is a baby or very young child, especially one who has only recently been born. The word is more formal than baby and is common in medical, developmental, and demographic contexts, as in infant mortality, infant nutrition, and infant development. It can also refer legally to a person below the age of majority, although this use is mainly found in laws, contracts, and historical documents. In extended or metaphorical use, an infant industry, market, or system is one that is newly established and not yet fully developed. Because infant specifies the earliest stage of childhood, it can sound more clinical or descriptive than warm and personal. Nevertheless, it remains a precise and familiar term, valued for its ability to distinguish a newborn or very young child from older children and, in legal language, from an adult.
A child in the earliest years of life, especially a newborn; in legal usage, a person below the age of majority.
"The hospital has a specialist team for premature infants."
More formal than baby; in legal contexts, it may refer to any minor rather than only a newborn.
Relating to or characteristic of an infant or early stage of development.
"The researchers studied infant language development."
Often used in technical, medical, developmental, or metaphorical contexts.
The regular plural of infant is infants.
"The clinic provides vaccinations for infants and young children."
The word infant comes from Latin infans, literally a young child, and has long carried both a tender image of new life and a precise legal meaning for childhood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does infant come from?
The word comes through Old French from Latin infans, a noun meaning a young child, with the genitive infantis. English borrowed it in the late Middle English period. Its Latin root underlies related forms in several languages, including Spanish infanta, used as a title for a royal daughter, while English developed the closely related forms infancy and infantile.
Related word forms
How infant is actually used
In everyday use, infant is more formal than baby and often emphasizes a child's very young age. In legal and historical usage, it can mean any minor. When describing an industry, system, or market in its early stages, it is usually metaphorical and may suggest immaturity or rapid development.
Easily confused with infant
Infant specifically denotes a very young child, whereas juvenile can refer to any young person or young animal.