Infant vs. Juvenile — What's the Difference?

An infant (from the Latin word infans, meaning 'unable to speak' or 'speechless') is the more formal or specialised synonym for the common term baby, meaning the very young offspring of human beings. The term may also be used to refer to juveniles of other organisms.

Not fully grown or developed; young.

A child in the earliest period of life, especially before being able to walk.

Of or characteristic of a young animal that has not reached sexual maturity

(Law) A person under the legal age of majority; a minor.

Characteristic of, intended for, or appropriate for children or young people

A very young nonhuman mammal, especially a primate.

Marked by immaturity; childish

Of or being in infancy.

(Geology) Relating to or being water, gas, or a mineral-rich fluid believed to have originated from magma and to have come to the earth's surface for the first time.

Intended for infants or young children.

A young person; a child.

Newly begun or formed

A young animal that has not reached sexual maturity.

A very young human being, from conception to somewhere between six months and two years of age after birth, needing almost constant care and attention.

A two-year-old racehorse.

(legal) A minor.

An actor who plays roles of children or young persons.

(obsolete) A noble or aristocratic youth.

A children's book.

(obsolete) To bear or bring forth (a child); to produce, in general.

Young; not fully developed.

A child in the first period of life, beginning at his birth; a young babe; sometimes, a child several years of age.

Characteristic of youth or immaturity; childish.

A person who is not of full age, or who has not attained the age of legal capacity; a person under the age of twenty-one years; a minor.

A prepubescent child.

Same as Infante.

A person younger than the age of majority; a minor.

Of or pertaining to infancy, or the first period of life; tender; not mature; as, infant strength.

(criminal law) A person younger than the age of full criminal responsibility, such that the person either cannot be held criminally liable or is subject to less severe forms of punishment.

Intended for young children; as, an infant school.

(literature) A publication for young adult readers.

To bear or bring forth, as a child; hence, to produce, in general.

(theater) An actor playing a child's role.

A very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk;

(zoology) A sexually immature animal.

A two-year-old racehorse.

Young; youthful; as, a juvenile appearance.

Of or pertaining to youth; as, juvenile sports.

Characteristic of children; immature; childish; puerile; infantile; as, a juvenile temper tantrum.

A young person or youth; - used sportively or familiarly.

A youthful person

Of or relating to or characteristic of or appropriate for children or young people;

Displaying or suggesting a lack of maturity;