infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən(t)-sē 

plural infancies

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

But these now-ancient programs only served roughly 100 children from significantly impoverished backgrounds, began in infancy and included other services for parents. —Abby McCloskey, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026

The initiative, which is still in its infancy, could be funded by the property owners or in collaboration with the Downtown San Diego Partnership, which manages the area’s property and business improvement district. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

My father started the Chicago Bungalow Association for the city and ran it from its infancy. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 25 Mar. 2026

To truly confirm that these Little Red Dots are indeed globular clusters in their infancy, future observations will need to sniff out specific chemical abundance patterns. —Paul Sutter, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing infancy

• in one's infancy

Kids Definition

infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē 

plural infancies

1

: early childhood

2

: a beginning or early period of existence

Medical Definition

infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē 

plural infancies

1

: early childhood

2

: the legal status of an infant

Legal Definition

infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē 

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