neonatal

adjective

neo·​na·​tal ˌnē-ō-ˈnā-tᵊl How to pronounce neonatal (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting the newborn and especially the human infant during the first month after birth
neonatal mortality
neonatal intensive care unit
neonatally adverb

Examples of neonatal in a Sentence

a neonatal intensive care unit
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The couple's son Ryder died two days later, while Hunter remained in the neonatal intensive care unit for 109 days. Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 25 June 2025 The hospital closed its obstetrics and neonatal intensive care units in July 2023 because of low patient volume. Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2025 Like other countries in the region, maternal and neonatal mortality rates are high, and far too many infants require the special care of the neonatal department at CHUPB. Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025 The music therapist, who worked at North Shore for more than 34 years, was part of a group of employees laid off in February after the hospital unexpectedly closed its critical but costly labor and delivery, neonatal, and behavioral health units to try to slow its financial bleeding. Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for neonatal

Word History

Etymology

New Latin neonatus neonate + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neonatal was in 1894

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Neonatal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neonatal. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Medical Definition

neonatal

adjective
neo·​na·​tal ˌnē-ō-ˈnāt-ᵊl How to pronounce neonatal (audio)
: of, relating to, or affecting the newborn and especially the human infant during the first month after birth
neonatal jaundice
neonatal death
compare prenatal, intranatal, postnatal
neonatally adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on neonatal

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