infrastructure
noun
in·fra·struc·ture ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chər 
-(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
ˈin-frə-ˌstrək-chə-rəl -ˌstrək-shrəl
adjective -ˌstrək-shrəl -(ˌ)frä-
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.
Synonyms
- architecture
- armature
- cadre
- configuration
- edifice
- fabric
- frame
- framework
- framing
- shell
- skeleton
- structure
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Much of Baltimore’s water and sewer infrastructure is quite old, and failures such as sewage spills and water main breaks are common. 
Ngan Ho, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2022 On the one hand this model accelerates [production] because there is a lot of creative exchange, but there is also a lot of exchange in terms of infrastructure. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Sep. 2022 Storm drains are an important part of stormwater infrastructure that helps keep rainfall from flooding our streets and neighborhoods. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 The Biden administration has ordered the EPA to create new cybersecurity rules for the water sector by this month, and has made similar requirements for other regulators of critical infrastructure. Catherine Stupp, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Having a cyber asset strategy that spans on-prem and multicloud environments can allow ongoing optimization and security regardless of the underlying infrastructure. Jane Gilson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 While hydrogen fuel cells remain a promising alternative to heavy battery packs, the lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure is a problem. Nick Kurczewski, Car and Driver, 22 Aug. 2022 Much of that infrastructure — airports, hotels, sewage systems — is still in place, said Schipani. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2022 Ramping up displacement and increased surveillance and policing are traditional parts of preparing for the Olympics, typically starting years in advance of the games and then remaining in place as part of a city’s infrastructure. Lauren Lee White, The New Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 See More
Ngan Ho, Baltimore Sun, 6 Sep. 2022 On the one hand this model accelerates [production] because there is a lot of creative exchange, but there is also a lot of exchange in terms of infrastructure. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 5 Sep. 2022 Storm drains are an important part of stormwater infrastructure that helps keep rainfall from flooding our streets and neighborhoods. San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Sep. 2022 The Biden administration has ordered the EPA to create new cybersecurity rules for the water sector by this month, and has made similar requirements for other regulators of critical infrastructure. Catherine Stupp, WSJ, 26 Aug. 2022 Having a cyber asset strategy that spans on-prem and multicloud environments can allow ongoing optimization and security regardless of the underlying infrastructure. Jane Gilson, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 While hydrogen fuel cells remain a promising alternative to heavy battery packs, the lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure is a problem. Nick Kurczewski, Car and Driver, 22 Aug. 2022 Much of that infrastructure — airports, hotels, sewage systems — is still in place, said Schipani. Regine Cabato, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2022 Ramping up displacement and increased surveillance and policing are traditional parts of preparing for the Olympics, typically starting years in advance of the games and then remaining in place as part of a city’s infrastructure. Lauren Lee White, The New Republic, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1927, in the meaning defined at sense 2
infrastructure
noun
as in architecture
the arrangement of parts that gives something its basic form a bold plan to deal a crippling blow to the infrastructure of international terrorism Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- architecture
- structure
- framework
- fabric
- configuration
- shell
- network
- skeleton
- framing
- frame
- edifice
- armature
- shape
- cadre
- outline
- lattice
- cage
- contour
- profile
- chassis
- figure
- silhouette