preemie

1 of 2

noun (1)

pree·​mie ˈprē-mē How to pronounce preemie (audio)
variants or less commonly premie
Synonyms of preemienext
: a premature baby

premie

2 of 2

noun (2)

pre·​mie

less common spelling of preemie

: a premature baby

Examples of preemie in a Sentence

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.
Noun
Jennifer Reents-Dickkut, a proud mom, walked into the NICU at Saint Luke's Hospital in Kansas City more than two decades after giving birth to her preemie twin girls, Payton and Annika. Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026 McKenna works in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) with preemies and other babies needing special attention, while Mary Kate works in the mother-baby unit, supporting both mothers and newborns in the critical first hours after birth. Nancy Badertscher, AJC.com, 6 May 2026
Noun
Sizes run from premie to 5T for toddlers, and there’s a kids’ section up to size 14. Liv Birdsall, USA TODAY, 1 Oct. 2020 See All Example Sentences for preemie

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

premature + -ie

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preemie was in 1927

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preemie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preemie. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.

Medical Definition

preemie

noun
pree·​mie
variants or premie
: a baby born prematurely

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