fledgling

noun

fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ How to pronounce fledgling (audio)
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

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
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.
Doing Well By Doing Good Besides being the right thing to do, empowering consumers with personalized financial know-how may be good business, especially for fledgling fintechs. Lindsey Downing, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025 Rather than picking on a fledgling program that is likely doomed by local politics anyway, the Trump administration should keep its eye on the prize: implementing policies that serve all students by greatly expanding school choice. Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2025 Many superlatives have already been attached to Yamal’s name but the teenager’s unpredictability is one of his strongest traits in his fledgling career. Mark Carey, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025 There’s nary a Jedi or lightsaber to be found, but Andor is filled with espionage and political intrigue, following characters who are either deeply embedded in the Empire or the fledgling Rebellion, or looking to take the leap on either side. Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for fledgling

Word History

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fledgling was in 1830

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Fledgling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fledgling. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

fledgling

noun
fledg·​ling ˈflej-liŋ How to pronounce fledgling (audio)
1
: a young bird just fledged
2
: an immature or inexperienced person

More from Merriam-Webster on fledgling

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