fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ 

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

Synonyms

• 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

For almost a decade, McAnally has served as Hayes’ mentor, collaborator and producer, and the fledgling comedian couldn’t help but be delighted by the full-circle moment. —Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025

Needing to test the waterproof knee-length wool coat without getting heat stroke, the founder and CEO of the then-fledgling apparel brand took it to a supermarket in West Harlem. —Megan Sauer, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025

While Amazon sales may be enough to stay afloat, placing all its seasonings into one virtual storefront can hamstring a fledgling business in the long term. —Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Oct. 2025

The notion of responsible tourism is still fledgling in the region, as each community gets to dictate the hospitality experience within their bounds. —Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 16 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