adjective
C2
Proficient
nascent
NASS-uhnt
Nascent (adjective) means Just coming into existence and beginning to show promise or potential. Example: “The nascent industry employed fewer than a thousand people.”
adjective
1
Just coming into existence and beginning to show promise or potential.
"The nascent industry employed fewer than a thousand people."
"There were signs of a nascent friendship between them."
"Locke has another plaque at Crediton station, on the line from Exeter to Barnstaple. It tells us that his "great number of unsurpassed works include the building of the nascent London & South Western Railway"."
— Stephen Roberts, Stories and facts behind railway plaques: Lancaster (1860) (2021)
How to use nascent
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOnly just starting to exist.
When to use it
Formal; common in journalism, business and academic writing.
Memory tip
It sits before the noun far more often than after it: 'a nascent movement' rather than 'the movement is nascent'.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a nascent industry
nascent democracy
nascent technology
nascent talent
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The _____ industry employed fewer than a thousand people.
Etymology
From Latin nascentem, the present participle of nasci, 'to be born'.
Related words
Rhymes for nascent
See all rhymes for nascent →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between nascent and emerging?
Nascent stresses that something has only just been born and is still fragile or unformed. Emerging suggests it is already becoming visible and gaining ground. A nascent market barely exists; an emerging market is on its way up.
How do you pronounce nascent?
Most commonly NASS-uhnt, with a short first vowel. NAY-suhnt is also accepted and is heard more often in American English.
Can nascent describe a person?
Not usually a person directly, but it works well with things people are developing, such as a nascent talent, a nascent career or a nascent interest in politics.
What is the meaning of nascent?
"nascent" (adjective) means just coming into existence and beginning to show promise or potential.
