fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ 

1

: a young bird just fledged (see fledge sense 1)

a bird feeding her fledglings

2

: an immature or inexperienced person

—often used before another noun

fledgling medical students

3

: one that is new

—often used before another noun

a fledgling company

Synonyms of fledgling

• novice
• newcomer
• beginner
• apprentice
• freshman
• rookie

Examples of fledgling in a Sentence

a female bird feeding her fledglings

at hockey he's still a fledgling and needs to work on his basic skating skills

Recent Examples on the Web

The president has amassed significant amounts of crypto wealth while in office, complicating dynamics for senators drafting legislation to try to bring the fledgling digital assets industry into the mainstream. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Looking to win a rubber match to keep their fledgling postseason dreams alive, the Twins turned in a lackluster performance in a 9-2 rout by the Cleveland Guardians in front of 17,676 at Target Field. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

The College Football Playoff will host a women’s flag showcase run by iFlag during the CFP 2027 championship week in Las Vegas, where Nebraska’s fledgling program will take on the ECAC’s Manhattan. — Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026

California’s tech wizards were busy helping lead the world into the Information Age, notably the fledgling commercial promise of the Internet. — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ 

1

: a young bird just fledged

2

: an immature or inexperienced person