hatchling

noun

hatch·​ling ˈhach-liŋ How to pronounce hatchling (audio)
: a recently hatched animal

Examples of hatchling in a Sentence

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 hatchling was born on June 4, 2025 after 128 days of incubation - the first of its species to be bred and hatched at the South Florida zoo, marking a milestone moment for conservation and the institution's history, according to the post. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025 The Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance welcomed its first-ever African pancake tortoise hatchling last month, zoo officials announced Tuesday. Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 11 June 2025 But their eggs and hatchlings can get crushed by tractors; they’re also being eaten by foxes, crows and sheep. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025 In the City of Brotherly Love, a pair of endangered Galapagos tortoises nearly 100 years old became first-time parents to four hatchlings that began to emerge on Feb. 27, the Philadelphia Zoo announced on Friday. Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for hatchling

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hatchling was in 1854

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Cite this Entry

“Hatchling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hatchling. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

hatchling

noun
hatch·​ling ˈhach-liŋ How to pronounce hatchling (audio)
: a recently hatched animal
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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