The Evolving Language: 'Infrastructure'

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Words evolve. Their spellings and definitions can vary over time, and sometimes terms are replaced altogether. This article explores the changing meaning of the word infrastructure.


Aerial view of highway intersection. Designed by Freepik

Etymology

The Oxford Dictionaries website defines infrastructure as ‘The basic physical and organizational structures and facilities… needed for the operation of a society or enterprise’. The word was coined in 19th-Century France and literally means ‘substructure’. It was originally used to refer to foundations for railways, roads or buildings.

Changing Context

Usage didn’t really take off until the middle of the 20th Century, when Western Europe was simultaneously rebuilding structures after World War II and preparing for the Cold War. The New York Times used the word in 1952 to refer to the vast programme of ‘…Allied airfields, barracks, railways, roads, depots and joint headquarters…’ being developed by NATO.

Beyond Public Works

Over the next three decades, the word infrastructure continued to rise in popularity. The use of the phrase public works – the building of community structures such as roads, schools and hospitals – also declined. In the words of journalist Alex Marshall, infrastructure now seemed to capture the sense that these were '...interconnected, mutually dependent systems that move us from place to place and serve as a primary engine of commerce...'.


Isometric view of modern smart city. Designed by Freepik


Contemporary Usage

In the 21st Century, infrastructure is now used to refer to digital networks and clean-energy systems, alongside more traditional features of human societies. According to McKinsey & Company, this is because 'Rapid population growth, technological breakthroughs, and climate pressures are transforming how societies think about the systems that sustain them'. 

Nuclear power stations, data centres and 5G networks are expensive systems that require collective (and often political) will. Such projects involve consultation, investment, technology and stakeholder engagement. Previously separate sectors (waste and energy, for example) are also becoming interconnected.

Infrastructure underpins everything from transport to quality of life; it is fundamental for urbanisation, population growth and industrial expansion. McKinsey & Company calls for a '...substantial mindset shift among stakeholders, including governments, investors, and industry operators'.


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