neonate

noun

ne·​o·​nate ˈnē-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce neonate (audio)
: a newborn child
especially : a child less than a month old

Examples of neonate in a Sentence

the hospital has added a new wing especially for neonates
Recent Examples on the Web The transition from a human womb to an artificial womb has to be seamless in order to stop the natural process of a fetus turning into a neonate. Bloomberg Wire, Dallas News, 14 Sep. 2023 In the summer months, most of their prey is very strong and healthy, so wolves are primarily feeding on neonates—newborn elk and bison calves, and sometimes even pronghorn calves. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023 The brain of a developing fetus or neonate could be especially vulnerable. Anthony King, Scientific American, 13 June 2023 In Western countries, neonates born with cataracts typically receive surgery shortly after birth. Cordula Hölig, Scientific American, 12 May 2023 Yet none of the vast diversity of anesthetic agents work in a consistent manner across all patients, who range from neonates to birthing mothers, the very elderly or the very sick. Christof Koch, Scientific American, 1 Nov. 2017 One drug has been approved for human use, but only in neonates, so researchers would still need to determine dosages for grown adults. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2023 The same study also mentioned exposure to maternal illness while in utero (other than diabetes and preeclampsia) and environmental exposures to the neonate (young infant), such as lower levels of vitamin D, that are thought to possibly play a role in the development of MS. Denise Mann, Health, 26 Jan. 2023 Salmonella kingabwa meningitis in a neonate. Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2014

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neonate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin neonatus (short for infans neonatus, neo-natus puerulus, etc.), from neo- neo- + Latin natus, past participle of nāscī "to be born" — more at nation

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of neonate was in 1925

Dictionary Entries Near neonate

Cite this Entry

“Neonate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neonate. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

neonate

noun
ne·​o·​nate ˈnē-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce neonate (audio)
: a newborn infant
especially : an infant less than a month old
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