premature

adjective

pre·​ma·​ture ˌprē-mə-ˈchu̇r How to pronounce premature (audio)
-ˈchər,
 also  -ˈtu̇r,
-ˈtyu̇r How to pronounce premature (audio)
 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 noun

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
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.
Health metrics are equally strong, with one of the lowest shares of adults in poor health and the 21st-lowest premature death rate in the country, the report found. Joe Edwards, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025 This premature exit felt different from his return to the Etihad. James Horncastle, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025 During pregnancy, invasive listeriosis can cause miscarriages, stillbirths, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn. Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 29 Sep. 2025 Monteverde’s wife, Odalis Morillo, now bears the burden of supporting their eight children—including their newborn—while also caring for a premature baby who is just three months old, only one month older than the amount of time her father has been in detention. Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for premature

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

circa 1529, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of premature was circa 1529

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Premature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/premature. Accessed 4 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

premature

adjective
: 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

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

More from Merriam-Webster on premature

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