fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ 

often attributive

1

: a young bird just fledged (see fledge sense 1)

a female bird feeding her fledglings

2

: an immature or inexperienced person

fledgling medical students

3

: one that is new

a fledgling company

Synonyms

• novice
• newcomer
• beginner
• apprentice
• freshman
• rookie

Examples of fledgling in a Sentence

a female bird feeding her fledglings

at hockey he's still a fledgling and needs to work on his basic skating skills

Recent Examples on the Web

The museum’s inaugural exhibition brings the story full circle, celebrating the works of Tom Lloyd—an artist and activist who appeared in the museum’s very first show back in 1968, when the fledgling institution occupied a loft above a jewelry store on Fifth Avenue. —Denny Lee, Travel + Leisure, 10 Oct. 2025

As a fledgling sports venture, Unrivaled needs to have a robust presence on key social platforms to reach fans and potential consumers of the three-on-three basketball games. —William Earl, Variety, 7 Oct. 2025

The three teams, which will debut next season, represent the latest audible by the fledgling league. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 7 Oct. 2025

But Tucson and Flagstaff are also seeing fledgling technology companies based around the defense and aerospace industries. —Sasha Hupka, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ 

1

: a young bird just fledged

2

: an immature or inexperienced person