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infrastructure

IN-fruh-struk-chur /ˈɪnfrəstrʌktʃə(r)/

nounB2GREGMATIELTSUPSC

economicgovernmentalurban

The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.

While we often think of roads and bridges, 'soft infrastructure' includes things like healthcare systems and emergency services.

The story behind the word. A relatively modern word, coined in French in the late 19th century. It combines 'infra' (below) and 'structure'. It literally means the 'structure below'—the hidden foundations that allow everything else to function. It became popular in English during the Cold War to describe military installations.

Word relationships

framework: A supporting structure, but often more abstract than physical infrastructure.
substructure: The underlying or supporting part of a structure, like a foundation.

superstructure: The part of a building or system that is built on top of something else.

Commonly confused with

architecture: Architecture is the design of a specific structure; infrastructure is the network that connects them.

Word family

infrastructural (adjective): Relating to the basic structures of a system.

Collocations

critical infrastructure
transport infrastructure
aging infrastructure
digital infrastructure

Example sentences

"Investment in green infrastructure is essential for achieving long-term sustainability goals." Economic Report
"The hurricane decimated the island's critical infrastructure, leaving thousands without water or electricity." Disaster Management

Memory hook

Think of the 'infra' (below) part—it's the stuff under the city (pipes, cables) that keeps it running. Infrastructure is the 'structure below' our daily lives.

When not to use

Avoid using it to refer to a single building; it refers to the network of support.

Fun facts

The term was rarely used in English before the 1950s; now it is a buzzword in every election.
'Cloud infrastructure' refers to the physical servers and cables that make the internet work.