fledgling

9 synonyms and 1 antonym for fledgling, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A young bird that has just grown the feathers needed to fly.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

freshman newcomer starter

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

newbie entrant neophyte fledgeling callow unfledged

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A young bird that has just grown the feathers needed to fly.

“A fledgling perched nervously on the edge of the nest.”

freshman newcomer newbie starter entrant neophyte fledgeling

2. noun

A person or organization that is new and still inexperienced.

“The fledgling company struggled to find its first customers.”

Opposites

maven

3. adj

New and still developing; not yet established.

“The fledgling democracy held its first free election.”

fledgeling callow unfledged

How to use fledgling

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

fledgling business fledgling democracy fledgling career

Etymology

From "fledge" ("to grow feathers needed for flight") + the diminutive suffix "-ling."

Full origin of fledgling →

Frequently asked questions

What does “fledgling” mean?

The word “fledgling” means a young bird that has just grown the feathers needed to fly. In plain terms, a young bird just learning to fly, or by extension, anything new and still finding its feet.

How do you pronounce “fledgling”?

“Fledgling” is pronounced FLEHJ-lihng (/ˈflɛd͡ʒ.lɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “fledgling” in a sentence?

Here is “fledgling” used in a sentence: “A fledgling perched nervously on the edge of the nest.”

What part of speech is “fledgling”?

Depending on how it is used, “fledgling” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “fledgling” a common word?

“Fledgling” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “fledgling” have?

“Fledgling” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young bird that has just grown the feathers needed to fly.

Related words

hatchling nestling

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freshman starter newcomer newbie callow maven neophyte entrant

Nearby words

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