premature

adjective

pre·​ma·​ture ˌprē-mə-ˈchu̇r 

-ˈchər

also -ˈtu̇r, 

-ˈtyu̇r 

also ˌpre-

: happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time

especially : born after a gestation period of less than 37 weeks

premature babies

premature noun

prematurely adverb

prematureness noun

prematurity

ˌprē-mə-ˈchu̇r-ə-tē 

-ˈchər, 

-ˈtu̇r-, 

-ˈtyu̇r- 

noun

Synonyms of premature

• early
• untimely
• unexpected
• sudden
• precocious
• inopportune

Examples of premature in a Sentence

Her premature death at age 30 stunned her family and friends.

Too much exposure to the sun can cause the premature aging of skin.

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, researchers have compared places with higher and lower levels of pollutants and have looked at differences in premature deaths and other negative health outcomes while controlling for other factors that could affect those numbers. —Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 14 Jan. 2026

Environmental advocates warn the shift could weaken clean air protections and ignore medical evidence linking pollution to asthma, heart disease and premature deaths. —Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026

Speculating at this point would be incredibly premature for me. —Nicole Acosta, PEOPLE, 14 Jan. 2026

If jumping to conclusions were an Olympic sport, these premature commentators who sought to create a narrative would receive gold medals. —Arkansas Online, 13 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin praematurus too early, from prae- + maturus ripe, mature

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for premature

• annexure
• embouchure
• epicure
• immature
• paramour
• reassure
• reinsure
• sinecure
• abjure
• adjure
• allure
• assure

Kids Definition

premature

adjective

pre·​ma·​ture ˌprē-mə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r  -ˈchu̇(ə)r 

: happening, coming, existing, or done before the proper or usual time

especially : born after a period of pregnancy of less than 37 weeks

premature babies

prematurely adverb

prematurity

-ˈt(y)u̇r-ət-ē  -ˈchu̇r- 

noun

Medical Definition

premature

1 of 2 adjective

pre·​ma·​ture

-mə-ˈt(y)u̇(ə)r, -ˈchu̇(ə)r, chiefly British ˌprem-ə-

: happening, arriving, existing, or performed before the proper, usual, or intended time

premature puberty

premature aging

especially : born after a gestation period of less than 37 weeks

premature babies

prematurely adverb

premature

2 of 2 noun

: preemie