English Explanatory Dictionary

infantry

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Soldiers who fight on foot (on land), as opposed to cavalry and other mounted units, regardless of external transport (e.g. airborne).
  2. The part of an army consisting of infantry soldiers, especially opposed to mounted and technical troops.
  3. A regiment of infantry.
  4. Infants; children.

Pronunciation

/ˈɪnfəntɹi/ /ˈɪnfənt͡ʃɹi/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-infantry.wav

Word forms

infantry infantries

Etymology

From Middle French infanterie, from older Italian, possibly from Spanish infantería (“foot soldiers, force composed of those too inexperienced or low in rank for cavalry”), from infante (“foot soldier”), originally "a youth", either way from Latin īnfāns (“child”); see there for more.

Synonyms

footfolk

Related words

infant

Derived words

infanteer infantry fighting vehicle infantryman infantryperson infantrywoman light infantry line infantry marine infantry mechanized infantry motorized infantry mounted infantry naval infantry noninfantry
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