fledgling

[flej-ling]

See more synonyms for fledgling on Thesaurus.com

noun

a young bird just fledged.
an inexperienced person.

adjective

young, new, or inexperienced: a fledgling diver.

Also especially British, fledge·ling.

Origin of fledgling

First recorded in 1820–30; fledge + -ling¹

Synonyms

See more synonyms for fledgling on Thesaurus.com

2. novice, tyro, beginner, freshman, greenhorn.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for fledgling

Contemporary Examples

But that may just add to the allure for these fledgling leaders.
So You Want to Rule a Kingdom? A Wacky History of One-Man Nations
Nina Strochlic
July 17, 2014
Three days into the life of the fledgling country and separatists dissemble on how far advanced they are in state making.
Inside East Ukraine’s Make-Believe Republics
Jamie Dettmer
May 15, 2014
He has intimidated and humiliated the fledgling pro-European government in Kiev.
Obama’s Nuclear Summit Aimed to Stop Terrorists. Now Putin’s the Issue.
Christopher Dickey, Jamie Dettmer, Nadette De Visser
March 25, 2014
He also has an LP and his own fledgling record company called Chin Stroke.
The Mystery of FluteDrop: D.J. Detweiler Pairs Miley Cyrus With Woodwinds
Gideon Resnick
March 5, 2014
For a small and fledgling army, open revolution was inconceivable.
Anger at the Heart of Nelson Mandela’s Violent Struggle
Christopher Dickey
December 6, 2013

Historical Examples

He had not vocalized since fledgling days and his voice had a jarring croak of disuse.
Traders Risk
Roger Dee
But the words most grateful to Jimmy Grayson were the thanks of the fledgling's father.
The Candidate
Joseph Alexander Altsheler
The dwarf explains that he is to Siegfried what the father is to the fledgling.
The Complete Opera Book
Gustav Kobb
Ghvthisavari thanked her heartily, took away a fledgling, and went home.
Georgian Folk Tales
Unknown
You crow loud as a fledgling cock with your weighty subjects!
In Search of Mademoiselle
George Gibbs

British Dictionary definitions for fledgling

fledgling

fledgeling

noun

a young bird that has just fledged
1. a young and inexperienced or untried person, organization or system

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for fledgling

1830 (adj.), 1846 as a noun meaning "young bird," from fledge + diminutive suffix -ling. Of persons, from 1856.

fledgling in Science

fledgling

[flĕj′lĭng]

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

fledgling

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}fledgling

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for fledgling

Contemporary Examples

But that may just add to the allure for these fledgling leaders.

Three days into the life of the fledgling country and separatists dissemble on how far advanced they are in state making.

He has intimidated and humiliated the fledgling pro-European government in Kiev.

He also has an LP and his own fledgling record company called Chin Stroke.

For a small and fledgling army, open revolution was inconceivable.

Historical Examples

He had not vocalized since fledgling days and his voice had a jarring croak of disuse.

But the words most grateful to Jimmy Grayson were the thanks of the fledgling's father.

The dwarf explains that he is to Siegfried what the father is to the fledgling.

Ghvthisavari thanked her heartily, took away a fledgling, and went home.

You crow loud as a fledgling cock with your weighty subjects!

fledgling

fledgeling

Word Origin and History for fledgling

fledgling

Origin of fledgling