newborn

American  

[noo-bawrn, nyoo-] / ˈnuˈbɔrn, ˈnju- /

adjective

1. recently or only just born.

2. born anew; reborn.

   a newborn faith in human goodness.

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noun

• newborn,
  plural
• newborns
  plural

1. a newborn infant; neonate.

newborn British  

/ ˈnjuːˌbɔːn /

adjective

1. 1. recently or just born

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the newborn

2. (of hope, faith, etc) reborn

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• newborn
  plural
• newborns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of newborn

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at new, born

Explanation

A newborn is literally a baby animal (including us human animals) who was born in the past month. Figuratively, newborn describes anything recently born or created, like a newborn interest in vocabulary. Little babies are newborns until they're a month old — four weeks is the official human newborn cut-off age. Then they’re just regular ol’ babies. Other things can be newborn as long as they’re brand new — a newborn restaurant was opened recently, a newborn celebrity might be 18 but she just got famous. You could have a newborn fear if you recently became scared of something. Most newborns are not scary, though. (Unless you’re babysitting one.)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

newborn newborns

The bay duiker antelope, for example, gives birth to offspring that weigh about as much as the estimated newborn C. theotonicus.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

Its makers priced a season’s protection at a fraction of the old drug’s cost, delivered it in a single shot, and chased a recommendation for every newborn in America rather than a lucrative few.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

"The in-service evaluation in England will help inform a recommendation from the UK NSC whether screening for SMA should be included as part of the newborn blood spot screening programmes across the UK," it added.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

Currently, newborn children aren’t automatically enrolled into the accounts.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026

“As pups go,” she says, looking back at me, “ye are as easy to read as a newborn, m’boy.”

From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness

The draw of Trump accounts is straightforward for families with newborns: Babies born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for a free $1,000 deposit from the federal government.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 2026

Researchers found that a combination of therapies administered to newborns within three days of birth could permanently eliminate the virus.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

The probe also found 59 sleeping bags with hoods or without armholes and 37 sleep pillows marketed for newborns, despite concerns about suffocation and overheating, as well as NHS safe sleep guidance.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

That includes nearly 1.5 million accounts for newborns that will receive $1,000 in government-funded seed money.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026

I know Chucha made Mami save all our bellybutton cords from when we were newborns to bury in the backyard.

From "Before We Were Free" by Julia Alvarez