infancy

UK: /ˈɪnfənsi/ US: /ˈɪnfənsi/ ,(in′fən sē)

Inflections of 'infancy' (n): npl: infancies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•fan•cy /ˈɪnfənsi/   n. [uncountable]

1. the state or period of being an infant:
   remembers nothing of his infancy.
2. a very early stage:
   Space science is still in its infancy.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

in•fan•cy  (in′fən sē), n., pl. -cies. 

1. the state or period of being an infant;
   very early childhood, usually the period before being able to walk;
   babyhood.
2. the corresponding period in the existence of anything;
   very early stage:
   Space science is in its infancy.
3. infants collectively.
4. Lawmaking the period of life to the age of majority, 21 years at common law but now usually 18;
   minority;
   nonage.

• Latin infantia. See infant, -cy
• 1485–95

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

infancy / ˈɪnfənsɪ/ noun ( -cies)

1. the state or period of being an infant; childhood
2. an early stage of growth or development
3. infants collectively
4. the period of life prior to attaining legal majority (reached at 21 under common law, at 18 by statute); minority nonage