Next: Flippancy Practice this wordAll F words

Fledgling

A young or inexperienced person; someone who is new to a field or activity and lacks experience.

noun

Check this word before you leave

Pick the meaning. Keys A–D work too.

How well do you know this word now?

Your choice schedules the next review.

💡

Imagine This

A mother bird wants her fledglings to learn how to fly. The only way to make them learn is to push the young birds out of the nest.

🔊

Sounds Like

FLED-ling

👀

Looks Like

resembles the word 'fledge' plus the diminutive suffix '-ling' (a small or young form)

📝

Remember This

Originally refers to a young bird that has just fledged; figuratively, it describes a person or entity that is new and still growing.

📚

Other Forms

fledgling (adjective)adjective

fledgeverb

fledglingsnoun (plural)

🔗

Connect With

neophyte, novice, rookie, greenhorn, apprentice

📌

Note

Use fledgling to describe someone or something that is at an early stage and has potential for growth. The term often conveys both novelty and the prospect of development, not just inexperience.

🧠

Study Deeper

Examples

The fledgling startup struggled at first but eventually gained traction.
She is a fledgling pianist who practices every day.

Synonyms

neophytenovicebeginnergreenhornapprentice

Antonyms

veteranexpertseasoned professional

Etymology

From the verb fledge (to grow feathers) plus the diminutive suffix -ling; originally described a young bird that has just acquired feathers

Mnemonic

FLEDGE + LING: the small one who has just fledged

Next Word

Continue in alphabetical order.

Flippancy

Try a Random Word

Pick any word below to jump in.

Morbid

adjective

Having or showing an unusual or unhealthy interest in death, disease, or other disturbing subjects; often used to describe thoughts, humor, or curiosity that focus on morbidity.