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

Startzer believes the time for his program’s breakout is next at the fledgling DPS high school located in northeast Denver. —Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025

And here, at last, near some crabs locked in a coital embrace, was a fledgling oyster. —Ben McGrath, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025

And there’s a lot to like about this fledgling platform. —Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Nov. 2025

Federal prosecutors on Tuesday filed criminal charges against San Leandro City Councilman Bryan Azevedo, claiming the two-term councilman accepted a $2,000 cash bribe and tried to secure a housing contract for a fledgling business in exchange for a cut of the future deal. —Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2025

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