infant
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for infant, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A very young child, roughly from birth up to around two years old.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use infant
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Latin īnfāns, literally "not able to speak" — in- ("not") + fāns, "speaking."
Full origin of infant →Frequently asked questions
What does “infant” mean?
The word “infant” means a very young child, roughly from birth up to around two years old. In plain terms, a baby, or something to do with the very earliest stage of childhood or school.
How do you pronounce “infant”?
“Infant” is pronounced IHN-fuhnt (/ˈɪn.fənt/ in IPA).
How do you use “infant” in a sentence?
Here is “infant” used in a sentence: “The infant slept peacefully in her mother's arms.”
What part of speech is “infant”?
Depending on how it is used, “infant” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “infant” come from?
The word “infant” comes from Latin. From Latin īnfāns, literally "not able to speak" — in- ("not") + fāns, "speaking.".
Is “infant” a common word?
“Infant” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “infant” have?
“Infant” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very young child, roughly from birth up to around two years old.
What is the difference between an infant and a baby?
The words overlap, but 'infant' is a slightly more formal or technical term for a very young child, roughly from birth to around two years old, while 'baby' is the everyday word. Medical and legal texts tend to prefer 'infant'.
What is the difference between an infant and a toddler?
An infant is a very young child from birth up to around two, while a toddler is a child who has begun walking, typically from about one to three years old. The stages overlap around the end of the first year.
What is the difference between an infant and a newborn?
A newborn is a baby in its first weeks of life, while 'infant' covers a wider span from birth up to around two years. Every newborn is an infant, but not every infant is a newborn.
What is an infant school in British education?
In British education, 'infant' describes the earliest years of primary school. An infant school or infant class usually covers children roughly aged five to seven, before they move on to junior classes.