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

Rewilding is taking place; around 200,000 Indigenous seedlings have been planted by lodge botanists to encourage native birds and eliminate invasive species. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 July 2026

Steph Lucas, director of horticulture for the Madison Square Park Conservancy, applied with NASA for a moon tree seedling in 2023. — Joanna Thompson, Space.com, 27 July 2026

Once the seeds germinate, Mercer recommends moving the seedlings to a sunny window or installing grow lights and setting them to 16 hours per day. — Sj McShane, Martha Stewart, 21 July 2026

Buy one herb pot and carefully divide the individual seedlings, repotting each in a container filled with well-draining potting mix. — Erica Browne Grivas, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for seedling

• needling
• wheedling

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