noun

sapling

SAP-lihng

Sapling (noun) means a young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature. Example: “We planted a row of oak saplings along the fence.”

noun

A young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature.

"We planted a row of oak saplings along the fence."

"The storm snapped the thin sapling in half."

A young person, especially a boy approaching adulthood.

"He was just a sapling of a lad when he first joined the crew."

How to use sapling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA young, still-growing tree.

Common pairings

plant a sapling young sapling oak sapling

Word forms

saplings plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “sapling” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

We planted a row of oak _____ along the fence.

Etymology

From Middle English "sapling," built from sap plus the diminutive suffix "-ling."

Origin: Middle English

Frequently asked questions

What does “sapling” mean?

The word “sapling” means a young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature. In plain terms, a young, still-growing tree.

How do you pronounce “sapling”?

“Sapling” is pronounced SAP-lihng (/ˈsæplɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “sapling” in a sentence?

Here is “sapling” used in a sentence: “We planted a row of oak saplings along the fence.”

What part of speech is “sapling”?

“Sapling” is a noun.

Where does the word “sapling” come from?

The word “sapling” comes from Middle English. From Middle English "sapling," built from sap plus the diminutive suffix "-ling.".

How many meanings does “sapling” have?

“Sapling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young tree, past the seedling stage but still slender and immature.