Refine this word faster

Stronger alternatives Opposite tone Use in context Cross-language nuance

Infant

//ˈɪn.fənt// adj, noun, verb

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Of or pertaining to the earlier half of primary school education. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, not-comparable

    "Primary schooling in Ireland comprises two Infant years, which are equivalent to pre-school in other countries , and six grades or classes."

  2. 2
    small, being near its source. figuratively, not-comparable

    "Leaving Nantyglo, a small station at an altitude of 1,030 ft. with the platform on the eastern side, the train runs northwards over former G.W.R. metals, with the infant River Ebbw, a little more than a yard wide, on the west."

Noun
  1. 1
    A very young human being, from birth to somewhere between six months and two years of age after birth, needing almost constant care and attention.
  2. 2
    a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk wordnet
  3. 3
    A minor.

    "Thomas Humphrey Doleman died the 30th of August 1712, an infant, intestate and without issue; Lewis the next nephew died the 17th of April 1716, an infant about sixteen years old, having left his mother Mary Webb, ..."

  4. 4
    A student in an infant school or the first part of a primary school. Commonwealth, Ireland, UK, countable
  5. 5
    A noble or aristocratic youth. obsolete

    "Retourned home, the royall Infant fell / Into her former fitt [...]."

Verb
  1. 1
    To bear or bring forth (a child); to produce, in general. obsolete

    "This worthy motto, "No bishop, no king," is […] infanted out of the same fears."

Etymology

Etymology 1

Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.

Etymology 2

Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.

Etymology 3

Inherited from Middle English infaunt, borrowed from Latin īnfantem, accusative masculine singular of īnfāns, nominal use of the adjective meaning 'not able to speak', from īn- (“not”) + fāns, present participle of for (“to speak”). The verb is from Anglo-Norman enfanter, from the same Latin source. Doublet of infante.

See also for "infant"

Synonyms Antonyms Rhymes Sentences Translate Word Type Pronunciation Word Forms

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciation

Mini challenge

Unscramble this word: infant