premature

[ pree-muh-choor, -toor, -tyoor, pree-muh-chooror, especially British, prem-uh-, prem-uh- ]

adjective

1. occurring, coming, or done too soon:

   a premature announcement.

2. mature or ripe before the proper time.

noun

1. a premature infant.

premature

/ ˌprɛməˈtjʊə; ˈprɛməˌtjʊə /

adjective

1. occurring or existing before the normal or expected time
2. impulsive or hasty

   a premature judgment

3. (of an infant) weighing less than 2500 g (5 1 2 lbs) and usually born before the end of the full period of gestation

Derived Forms

• ˌpremaˈturely, adverb
• ˌpremaˈtureness, noun

Other Words From

• prema·turely adverb
• prema·turi·ty prema·tureness noun
• unpre·ma·ture adjective
• unpre·ma·turely adverb
• unpre·ma·tureness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of premature¹

From the Latin word praemātūrus, dating back to 1520–30. See pre-, mature

Word History and Origins

Origin of premature¹

C16: from Latin praemātūrus, very early, from prae in advance + mātūrus ripe

Example Sentences

Premature buzz over Girls built into a mountain of hype that was unscalable for Dunham.

From The Daily Beast

Premature infants in neonatal intensive care are at high risk for infection.

From The Daily Beast

Premature darkness was accompanied with torrents of rain, through which we followed our now uncertain guides.

From Project Gutenberg

Premature charge to be avoided; charging without authority from the rear.

From Project Gutenberg

Premature decay is always the result, showing with certainty that a healthy action has not been going on.

From Project Gutenberg

Premature baldness most frequently first attacks that part of the head where pressure is made by the hat.

From Project Gutenberg

Premature action might injure a cause which they wished, above all others, to benefit.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• immature
• incomplete
• untimely