infrastructure
IN-fruh-struk-chur
/ˈɪnfrəˌstrʌktʃər/
The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities (e.g., buildings, roads, power supplies) needed for the operation of a society or enterprise.
In sports, this refers to the 'behind-the-scenes' systems like transport to the stadium, plumbing, and telecommunications.
The story behind the word. Coined in French as 'infrastructure', it literally means the 'structure below'. It originally referred to the roadbed of a railroad—the part you don't see that supports the tracks.
Word relationships
- framework: More abstract; infrastructure is usually physical.
- foundation: Refers to the very bottom layer; infrastructure is the whole system.
Word family
- infrastructural (adjective): Relating to infrastructure.
Collocations
- critical infrastructure
- aging infrastructure
- digital infrastructure
- transport infrastructure
Example sentences
- "The government invested billions in transportation infrastructure to ensure fans could reach the remote stadiums." Discussing the cost of the World Cup.
- "The existing infrastructure was insufficient to handle the sudden influx of fifty thousand visitors." A formal report on urban planning.
Memory hook
Infrastructure is the 'structure' 'infra' (below) the surface that keeps things running. Infrastructure = The hidden support.
When not to use
Don't use for a single piece of equipment like a ball or a bat.
Fun facts
- The word didn't become common in English until the 1950s, largely due to military planning during the Cold War.
Also appears in
- Business → Industry & Manufacturing
- Nature → Urban Environmental Planning
- Travel & Culture → Urban Spaces & Cities
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Urban Planning & Infrastructure Policy
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Civic Infrastructure & Utilities
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Smart Cities & Urban Tech
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Industrialization & Capitalism
- Economic Theory & Analysis → Development & Mixed Economies
- Engineering & Industrial Design → Civil Infrastructure
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Water Scarcity & Management
- Environmental Policy & Sustainability Economics → Disaster Mitigation & Resilience
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