fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ How to pronounce fledgling (audio)
often attributive
1
: a young bird just fledged (see fledge sense 1)
a female bird feeding her fledglings
2
: an immature or inexperienced person
fledgling medical students
3
: one that is new
a fledgling company

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
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.
The fledgling Future Soldier prep course started during Joe Biden's presidency and has played a central role in reversing the recruiting slump. Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 6 Sep. 2025 The fledgling company’s early output demonstrates its range and festival appeal. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Sep. 2025 Meanwhile, his day job may be entering a new phase as fledgling companies leave the nest and head off on their own — faster than new ones launch. Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 2025 One weekday morning in August, two members from Razer’s fledgling AI team huddle over their laptops in a live demo of new gaming software. John Kang, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fledgling

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fledgling was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fledgling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fledgling. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

fledgling

noun
fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ How to pronounce fledgling (audio)
1
: a young bird just fledged
2
: an immature or inexperienced person

More from Merriam-Webster on fledgling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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