infant

in-fant · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A very young child, especially one not yet able to walk or talk.

  2. 2.

    (Law) A person who has not attained legal majority.

  3. 3.

    (Attributive) In an early stage of development.

Forms

plural: infants

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    infant mortality — death rate among babies
  • •
    infant school — school for children aged 4-7 (British)

Related words

Antonyms: adult, elder
See also: baby, child, infancy
Synonyms: baby, newborn, toddler

Etymology

From Latin infans ("young child, infant"), literally "unable to speak," from in- ("not") + fans, present participle of fari ("to speak").