nascent
Americanadjective
-
beginning to exist or develop.
That nascent republic is holding its first election this month.
-
Chemistry. (of an element) in the nascent state.
adjective
-
starting to grow or develop; being born
-
chem (of an element or simple compound, esp hydrogen) created within the reaction medium in the atomic form and having a high activity
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of nascent
First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin nāscent-, stem of nāscēns “being born,” present participle of nāscī “to be born, arise”
Explanation
The adjective nascent describes the birth or beginning of something, like a civilization, a trend, an idea, or an action. If your idea for a time machine is nascent, it needs a lot more work before you'll be ready to travel to ancient Egypt. Imagine you’re in the future looking back at the first time you learned the definition of the word nascent. Your nascent efforts to use the word felt awkward, but you quickly felt comfortable with it, especially after you learned how to pronounce it: “NAY-sent.” Now you use the word all the time!
Vocabulary lists containing nascent
This Week in Words: September 1 - 7, 2018
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
I'm New Here...
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Mother Tongue" by Amy Tan
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The move accelerates the administration’s plans to boost the nascent industry, which has attracted a wave of investment from investors and businesses in recent months.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026
The concept of an AI windfall tax is a worry for markets, even if it’s just a nascent idea overseas.
From Barron's • May 12, 2026
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has echoed that view, saying External link the U.S. is at “the nascent stages of a productivity boom, not unlike the 1990s.”
From Barron's • May 9, 2026
The IPO is poised to generate billions of dollars in new capital SpaceX could use, including for investment in its nascent AI arm.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 7, 2026
The idea was still nascent and an actual decision many months away, but clearly it was taking hold in Barack’s mind.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
