fledgling

American  

[flej-ling] / ˈflɛdʒ lɪŋ /

especially British, fledgeling

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of fledgling

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

Example Sentences

He’s shown a tender, encouraging side in his support of his fledgling golfer son, Charlie.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 29, 2026

According to Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs, Wayne, an engineer at the Atari video game company, was in charge of hardware engineering and documentation in the fledgling business.

From Barron's • Mar. 29, 2026

The smoldering ashes at the bottom of the building had broken out into a few fledgling fires, and he moved to put them out.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 16, 2026

Driven by Watt's marketing genius, the fledgling company pulled stunt after attention-seeking stunt, each crazier than the last, and they were rarely out of the news.

From BBC • Mar. 6, 2026

The patrolman glanced up and saw, framed against the starlit sky, two winged silhouettes— the baby owl’s parents, anxiously circling their frightened fledgling.

From "Hoot" by Carl Hiaasen

Related Words

• chick
• nestling