fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ 

often attributive

1

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

a bird feeding her fledglings

2

: an immature or inexperienced person

fledgling medical students

3

: one that is new

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

With or without such acts as Oingo Boingo, Men At Work and David Lindley — all of whom played early on at the fledgling venue — almost no one could have predicted that a groundbreaking San Diego concert force was in the making. —George Varga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026

But this idea was too expensive for a fledgling nonprofit — lining the riverbed with rocks was estimated to cost several million dollars, Moore said. —Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026

Northern California may soon see its first condor fledgling soaring across the skies in more than 100 years. —Debra Utacia Krol, AZCentral.com, 5 Mar. 2026

Having made a massive profit from Tender’s collapse through her fledgling fund’s short position, Harper isn’t just flying high — literally, on a private jet where she’s being interviewed by New Yorker journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, playing himself in a cameo. —Alison Herman, Variety, 2 Mar. 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