infrastructure

noun

in·​fra·​struc·​ture ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chər How to pronounce infrastructure (audio)
-(ˌ)frä-
1
: the system of public works of a country, state, or region
also : the resources (such as personnel, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity
2
: the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)
3
: the permanent installations required for military purposes
infrastructural adjective

Did you know?

Infra- means "below;" so the infrastructure is the "underlying structure" of a country and its economy, the fixed installations that it needs in order to function. These include roads, bridges, dams, the water and sewer systems, railways and subways, airports, and harbors. These are generally government-built and publicly owned. Some people also speak about such things as the intellectual infrastructure or the infrastructure of science research, but the meaning of such notions can be extremely vague.

Examples of infrastructure in a Sentence

More money is needed to save the crumbling infrastructure of the nation's rural areas. We need to spend more money on maintaining and repairing infrastructure.
Recent Examples on the Web On the Rio Grande in Texas, an area largely lacking major border wall infrastructure due to the complex environment, the numbers remained relatively stable during the same time frames. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 Matthew manages the real estate auction division and with outside consultants and contractors continually updates the company’s website and technology infrastructure. Tony Roberts, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024 With up to 1,500 eligible lots, Cochrane said buyers will be responsible for developing the infrastructure on unserviced lots and committing to such development. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 8 Mar. 2024 Every business needs an infrastructure and your creator business is no different. Victoria Bachan, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2024 As such, Color Congress is planning to use Field Building Fund dollars to build an infrastructure that supports collective marketing and distribution, step one of a multiphase initiative to support a slate of films from the coalition in 2024-25. Rebecca Sun, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024 With the hotel and all the surrounding infrastructure, the total investment is nearly $700 million. The Enquirer, 7 Mar. 2024 The Twin Otter has long been recognized for its short takeoff and landing capabilities, with the ability to operate on different surfaces, including areas lacking infrastructure. Daniel Cote, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 While bone measurements allow researchers and physicians to effectively measure years to decades of exposure, health departments and the CDC currently lack the infrastructure to deploy this technology in communities that are highly affected by lead. Aaron Specht, The Conversation, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'infrastructure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of infrastructure was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near infrastructure

Cite this Entry

“Infrastructure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infrastructure. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

infrastructure

noun
in·​fra·​struc·​ture ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chər How to pronounce infrastructure (audio)
1
: the underlying foundation or basic framework (as of a system or organization)
2
: the system of public works of a country, state, or region
also : the resources (as people, buildings, or equipment) required for an activity
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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