infrastructure

noun

in·fra·struc·ture | \ ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chər

, -(ˌ)frä-\

Definition of infrastructure

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

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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

Half the block had been leveled, and the city was left with new fears about the vulnerability of its crucial infrastructure. — Jan Ransom, New York Times, "An Illegal Gas Line Killed 2 People. Should the Landlord Go to Prison?," 9 Sep. 2019 Chun gets college sports, understand football, is relentless with donors, alumni and former players and would establish an infrastructure and culture that would greatly reduce the likelihood of future embarrassment. — Jon Wilner, Orange County Register, "USC needs an athletic director: 6 potential candidates," 9 Sep. 2019 Zachery Henry, spokesman for the state party, said opting out of the election would allow the party to invest its resources toward voter education and building out its political infrastructure. — Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, azcentral, "Republican Party prepares to scrap 2020 presidential preference election in Arizona," 6 Sep. 2019 There is severe flooding, severe damage to homes, businesses, other buildings and infrastructure. — Char Adams, PEOPLE.com, "Husband Helplessly Watched Wife Drown in Hurricane Dorian Floodwaters: 'She Was Gone So Quickly'," 4 Sep. 2019 At least five people have reportedly died, and the destruction to homes and infrastructure is hard to overstate. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Send Condolences to the Victims of Hurricane Dorian," 3 Sep. 2019 States also must develop sound spending and tax policies, invest in their physical infrastructure, and provide residents with high-quality education, Thompson said. — Edward Fitzpatrick, BostonGlobe.com, "Rhode Island has clawed back from the Great Recession. What happens when the next one comes?," 30 Aug. 2019 In her research, Levy discovered that the majority of states do spend unclaimed money, either by pouring it directly into the general fund or by putting it toward specific uses, like housing or infrastructure. — Michael Waters, The Atlantic, "What Happens to All Those Unused Gift Cards," 27 Aug. 2019 While robotaxis are not here yet, preparing now for changes in downtown parking and infrastructure could help cities respond when privately owned AVs start to hit the streets. — Constantine Samaras, The Conversation, "Bargain-hunting robocars could spell the end for downtown parking – cities need to plan ahead now," 23 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'infrastructure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for infrastructure

infrastructure

noun

English Language Learners Definition of infrastructure

: the basic equipment and structures (such as roads and bridges) that are needed for a country, region, or organization to function properly

See the full definition for infrastructure in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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infrastructure

Definition of infrastructure

Other Words from infrastructure

Synonyms for infrastructure

Did You Know?

Examples of infrastructure in a Sentence

First Known Use of infrastructure

English Language Learners Definition of infrastructure

infrastructure

Definition of infrastructure

Other Words from infrastructure

Synonyms for infrastructure

Did You Know?

Examples of infrastructure in a Sentence

First Known Use of infrastructure

English Language Learners Definition of infrastructure

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