: 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.
Example Sentences
He joined the infantry after leaving school.
Recent Examples on the WebDespite his family and friends' efforts to convince him otherwise, Rylee was committed to joining the infantry. Megan Myers, Fox News, 28 Aug. 2022 In the past, that might have involved using smoke pots to prevent militia defending castles from seeing approaching siege weapons, or artillery shells crashing down on the battlefield, preventing defending infantry from seeing advancing tanks. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 26 Aug. 2022 The Queen's Guard is a contingent of infantry responsible for guarding the monarch's official residences. Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 18 July 2022 An article on Thursday about Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany and the debate over sending heavy weapons to Ukraine misstated the name of a German infantry-fighting vehicle.New York Times, 23 Apr. 2022 Gavin was also honest enough to note—frequently—in his diary that few ordinary US infantry formations in northwest Europe remotely matched the energy and courage displayed by the Airborne divisions. Max Hastings, The New York Review of Books, 28 May 2020 In Moore's case, being in the ROTC at OBU led to being an infantry officer in the U.S. Army and a year in the war overseas as an Army pilot. Werner Trieschmann, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2022 The Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises will run through Sept. 1, and will involve aircraft, warships, tanks and infantry. Anders Hagstrom, Fox News, 22 Aug. 2022 Tim Joliet of Greenbackville, Va., served in Vietnam as an infantry officer with the 101st Airborne. John Kelly, Washington Post, 17 Aug. 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Middle French & Old Italian; Middle French infanterie, from Old Italian infanteria, from infante boy, foot soldier, from Latin infant-, infans