fledgling

American  

[flej-ling] / ˈflɛdʒ lɪŋ /

especially British, fledgeling

noun

• fledglings
  plural

1. a young bird just fledged.

2. an inexperienced person.

   Synonyms:

   greenhorn, freshman, beginner, tyro, novice

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adjective

1. young, new, or inexperienced.

   a fledgling diver.

fledgling British  

/ ˈflɛdʒlɪŋ /

noun

1. a young bird that has just fledged

2. 1. a young and inexperienced or untried person, organization or system

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fledgling Scientific  

/ flĕj′lĭng /

1. A young bird that has just grown the feathers needed to fly and is capable of surviving outside the nest.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fledglings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fledgling

First recorded in 1820–30; fledge + -ling ¹

Explanation

A fledgling is a fuzzy baby bird just learning to fly, or someone (like a baby bird) who's brand new at doing something. Awww. If you're not talking about a baby bird, fledgling is often used as an adjective describing a new participant in something, like a fledgling senator still learning the ropes of how to legislate, or a fledgling drama program trying to build audiences for its plays. It can also mean inexperienced and young, like the fledgling photographer for the school paper who accidentally erases all the pictures. If you're British, spell it fledgeling if you like — both spellings are correct.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fledgling fledglings

Instead, the fledgling PM focused on the type of crime, ensuring those mentioned above would stay behind bars.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

After a three-year hiatus, “Lasso” returned for Season 4 last week with the series’ eponymous title character, played by Sudeikis, returning to Richmond to coach a fledgling second-division women’s team.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 9, 2026

Mining companies see enormous wealth in mineral deposits scattered across the seabed, but the fledgling industry has for years been held back by environmental concerns.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Suwa nevertheless instilled in the fledgling ballerina a discipline and rigor that would carry Morishita through her career.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

There were issues to manage at the fledgling Livermore lab, thermonuclear tests to attend in the Nevada desert and plans to be made for new tests at Eniwetok.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Their fledglings are about one third lighter, even though the warmest days they experience reach similar temperatures of about 16-17ºC.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 12, 2026

Amid fading light, the delicate fledglings fluttered in a wind portending a storm.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 21, 2025

Tan hopes that the mealworms, tiny balls of suet and sunflower chips she leaves on the patio will ensure more fledglings reach adulthood.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 30, 2024

Birdhouse owners say that they wait until the fledglings have left the nest before they harvest and that neither the parents nor their babies are harmed.

From New York Times ● Apr. 2, 2024

Nesting usually occurred between February and July, but fledglings had been observed in dens as late as October Systematically, Roy scrolled down the search items one by one until he finally hit the jackpot.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• chick
• nestling