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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
President Barack Obama's administration first granted TPS status to Haitians in 2010 after a devastating earthquake killed as many as 300,000 people and decimated much of the nation's infrastructure. Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 6 June 2025 As our reliance on digital infrastructure escalates, the innovation and adoption of advanced cooling technologies could grow ever more important. Thomas Grizzetti, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025 Along with developing a comprehensive rebuilding master plan and supporting the Palisades’ infrastructure reconstruction, AECOM will help coordinate broader public and private rebuilding efforts. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 6 June 2025 The contract represents a significant shift in how space launch infrastructure is funded. Stephen Clark – Jun 6, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for infrastructure

Word History

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of infrastructure was in 1927

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Cite this Entry

“Infrastructure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infrastructure. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on infrastructure

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