seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ 

1

: a young plant grown from seed

2

a

: a young tree before it becomes a sapling

b

: a nursery plant not yet transplanted

seedling adjective

Illustration of seedling

• 1 primary root
• 2 rootlet
• 3 root hairs
• 4 hypocotyl
• 5 cotyledon
• 6 epicotyl
• 7 true leaf

Examples of seedling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

His careful protection and cultivation of those seedlings into the sapling stage would have been a sure victory. —Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026

Continue this indoor-outdoor transition, extending their outdoor time a couple hours each day for a4 to 5 days before planting the seedlings in the garden. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Jan. 2026

Excessive fertilizer will overwhelm the seedlings, so use a water-soluble fertilizer diluted to one-half the normal strength. —Kerry Michaels, The Spruce, 21 Jan. 2026

Most nut trees require two seedlings nearby for nut production; however, this tree is self-fertile. —Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seedling

• needling

Kids Definition

seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ 

1

: a young plant grown from seed

2

: a tree before it becomes a sapling

seedling adjective