infancy

/ˈɪnfənsi/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈɪnfənsi/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈin-fən(t)-sē/ (ame, mw)

infancy — noun

1. the earliest part of a human life, from birth until about two years old, when a

1.名詞B1
釋義

the earliest part of a human life, from birth until about two years old, when a child is still a baby or toddler and cannot yet talk or walk properly

例句

Dan's parents took hundreds of photos of him during his infancy.

possessive determiner: his infancy

The vaccine protects children from serious diseases from infancy onward.

preposition phrase: from infancy onward

同義詞
  • babyhood

    narrower — usually refers to the first year of life only

  • early childhood

    broader — can extend to age six or seven

  • toddlerhood

    narrower — specific to ages one to three

反義詞

文法句型

in/during (possessive) infancy

from infancy

since infancy

用法筆記

Frequently used with possessive determiners (her infancy, their infancy). Common in the fixed phrases from infancy and during infancy. Unlike early childhood, infancy specifically refers to the pre-verbal and pre-walking stage.

常見錯誤

❌I remember my infancy very clearly.
✅I remember my early childhood very clearly.
💡Most people have no conscious memories from infancy; the word refers to a stage that cannot be recalled.
❌She took care of him during his infancy toddler stage.
✅She took care of him during his infancy.
💡Infancy already includes the toddler period up to about age two; adding 'toddler stage' is redundant.

2. an early stage in the development of a technology, industry, organization, or id

2.名詞B2
釋義

an early stage in the development of a technology, industry, organization, or idea, when it is just beginning to take shape and has not yet reached a mature form

例句

The company was still in its infancy and had only five employees at the time.

fixed phrase: in its infancy

Solar energy technology is in its infancy compared to fossil fuels.

同義詞
  • beginnings

    informal and less specific; 'the beginnings of the internet'

  • early days

    informal; 'it is early days for the project'

  • embryonic stage

    formal; suggests an even earlier, more fragile state

反義詞
  • maturity

    the state of being fully developed

  • adulthood

    the final, stable stage of development

文法句型

in (possessive) infancy

during the infancy of [something]

still in its infancy

用法筆記

Almost always takes a possessive determiner (its, the) in the fixed pattern in/during its infancy. The phrase still in its infancy is extremely common and signals that a field or technology has a long way to grow. Never used without a determiner (*in infancy for this sense).

常見錯誤

❌The industry is in infancy and has room to grow.
✅The industry is in its infancy and has room to grow.
💡The possessive determiner 'its' is required in this metaphorical sense.
❌The company's infancy lasted ten years.
✅The company was in its infancy for about three years.
💡Infancy suggests the very beginning stage, not a long period.