infantry

noun

in·​fan·​try ˈin-fən-trē 

plural infantries

1

a

: soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot

b

: a branch of an army composed of these soldiers

2

: an infantry regiment or division

Did you know?

The Italian word fante (from Latin infans, “infant, child”) originally meant “child,” later “youth, boy,” and then “servant.” In the 14th century, fante also took on the sense “foot soldier.” In Renaissance times, the fanteria, foot soldiers collectively, became a significant branch of arms, and the Italian word infanteria, was borrowed into English in the 1500s.

Examples of infantry in a Sentence

He joined the infantry after leaving school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ukraine’s ability to manufacture these weapons is crucial, as combining artillery with drones and infantry tactics creates a powerful combat advantage. —Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025

Dragon's teeth are concrete blocks used to halt tank advances and prevent mechanized infantry from gaining territory. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 25 Mar. 2025

He was drafted into the Army infantry during World War II, from 1943 until the end of the war in 1945. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 21 Mar. 2025

Russian infantry would then attack the battered Ukrainian troops—and overwhelm them. —David Axe, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French infanterie, from Old Italian infanteria, from infante boy, foot soldier, from Latin infant-, infans

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

infantry

noun

in·​fan·​try ˈin-fən-trē 

plural infantries

: a branch of an army made up of soldiers trained, armed, and equipped to fight on foot

Etymology

from early French infanterie and early Italian infanteria, both meaning "infantry," from early Italian infante "infant, boy, foot soldier," from Latin infans "infant"

Word Origin

In the Middle Ages in France, a young soldier from a good family who was not yet a knight was called enfant, which means "child." Likewise, in Italy a soldier moving on foot behind a knight riding a horse was an infante. Later, Italian foot soldiers as a group became known as infanteria, which was borrowed into French as infanterie and into English as infantry.