seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ How to pronounce seedling (audio)
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
a
: a young tree before it becomes a sapling
b
: a nursery plant not yet transplanted
seedling adjective

Illustration of seedling

Illustration of seedling
  • 1 primary root
  • 2 rootlet
  • 3 root hairs
  • 4 hypocotyl
  • 5 cotyledon
  • 6 young stem
  • 7 true leaf

Examples of seedling 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.
According to the Texas Invasive Species Institute, snail damage in uncontrolled fields can be as high as 100 percent for rice seedlings in the germinating stage. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Aug. 2025 Without daily watering, new seedlings and sod will quickly die. Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2025 In the years between seedlings and harvest, a portion of the acres will have been lost to fires, floods, insects and disease. William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2025 Use floating row covers over seedlings and susceptible crops such as eggplants, which can be decimated by flea beetles. Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 11 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for seedling

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of seedling was in 1629

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedling. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

seedling

noun
seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ How to pronounce seedling (audio)
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
: a tree before it becomes a sapling
seedling adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on seedling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!