neonatal

adjective

neo·​na·​tal ˌnē-ō-ˈnā-tᵊl 

: of, relating to, or affecting the newborn and especially the human infant during the first month after birth

neonatal mortality

neonatal intensive care unit

neonatally

ˌnē-ō-ˈnā-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Examples of neonatal in a Sentence

a neonatal intensive care unit

Recent Examples on the Web

Her daughter was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, while McElroy remained in the hospital for three days. —Abigail Brooks, NBC news, 13 May 2026

After 113 days spent in a neonatal intensive care unit in Colorado, one baby got to go home for Mother's Day. —Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026

Her daughter, Camryn, was born at 3 pounds, 7 ounces, and spent 29 days and her first Christmas in the neonatal intensive care unit. —Tina Sturdevant, New York Times, 10 May 2026

At its present rate of growth, within five years the hospital would have capacity for only 67% of patients in need of beds and for only 40% of newborns needing a spot in the neonatal intensive care unit. —Suzanne King, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

New Latin neonatus neonate + -al entry 1

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for neonatal

• nonfatal
• postnatal
• prenatal
• antenatal
• hiatal
• perinatal
• datal
• fatal

Medical Definition

neonatal

adjective

neo·​na·​tal ˌnē-ō-ˈnāt-ᵊl 

: of, relating to, or affecting the newborn and especially the human infant during the first month after birth

neonatal jaundice

neonatal death

compare prenatal, intranatal, postnatal

neonatally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb