infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən(t)-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
Synonyms of infancynext
1
: early childhood
2
: a beginning or early period of existence
3
: the legal status of an infant

Examples of infancy in a Sentence

She was often sick during her infancy. a skill developed in infancy She has been a member of the church since its infancy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
About half need open-heart surgery during infancy. — Michelle Sie Whitten, STAT, 25 June 2026 Despite the category’s rapid growth, Jia believes the industry remains in its infancy. — Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 18 June 2026 Streaming numbers are in their relative infancy and TV ratings are now dissected with multiplatform caveats. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 25 June 2026 The nine documents are divided into three glass cases, each one marking different moments in America’s infancy. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for infancy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infancy was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing infancy

Browse Nearby Words

infamy
infancy
infang
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infancy. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

infancy

noun
in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: early childhood
2
: a beginning or early period of existence

Medical Definition

infancy

noun
in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: early childhood
2
: the legal status of an infant

Legal Definition

infancy

noun
in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: the legal status of an infant : minority
2
: the affirmative defense of lacking legal capacity (as to make a contract or commit a crime) because of being too young and especially because one's age is below an age set by statute

More from Merriam-Webster on infancy

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for infancy

Nglish: Translation of infancy for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about infancy

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