C1noun2K

Infant

UK /["/ˈɪnfənt/"]/US /["/ˈɪnfənt/"]/

Definition

a baby or very young child

In simple words: A very young baby, usually under one year old.

Examples

  • The infant was fast asleep in the cradle.
  • She specializes in infant nutrition and development.
  • Infant mortality rates have decreased significantly over the past decade.
  • The hospital's infant ward is staffed with expert pediatricians.
  • Infant products such as diapers and formula are in high demand.

Usage notes

Used in everyday conversation and in medical contexts. Generally appropriate when discussing babies or child development. Avoid in casual settings where relaxed language is used; 'baby' might be more common.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of 'in-fant' as 'in the first days of life'.

Collocations

  • young
  • month-old
  • two-month-old
  • breastfeed
  • feed
  • nurse
  • death
  • mortality
  • child
  • sudden infant death syndrome

Synonyms

  • baby
  • newborn
  • neonate
  • youngster

Antonyms

  • adult
  • grown-up

Common mistakes

  • Confusing infant with toddler, which refers to a slightly older age range.
  • Using 'infant' when talking about older children.
  • Incorrectly applying the term in non-medical contexts.