neonatal

American  

[nee-oh-neyt-l] / ˌni oʊˈneɪt l /

adjective

1. of or relating to newborn children.

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neonatal British  

/ ˌniːəʊˈneɪtəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to newborn children, esp in the first week of life and up to four weeks old

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Usage

What does neonatal mean? Neonatal is an adjective used to describe things related to newborn babies and their care.Neonatal is a technical term used in the context of medicine and healthcare. You’re most likely to see it used in terms like neonatal unit, neonatal care, and neonatal nurse, and in the names of certain medical conditions that affect newborns. Its noun form, neonate, is another word for a newborn.Example: My sister is a neonatal nurse who specializes in caring for newborns with certain health problems.

Other Word Forms

• neonatally adverb
• postneonatal adjective

Etymology

Origin of neonatal

First recorded in 1900–05; neo- + natal

Example Sentences

But in the fire, she said, she lost every physical memory of him, including his neonatal intensive care unit pillow and handprint.

From Los Angeles Times

A couple who founded a charity to support parents who have lost babies through stillbirth, miscarriage or neonatal death have been recognised in the New Year Honours list.

From BBC

After spending the first six months of his life in neonatal intensive care he was moved to Evelina London Children's Hospital.

From BBC

She was only able to stroke his face before he was taken to the neonatal unit.

From BBC

“The neonatal period is a very sacred period, and interventions at those periods are very cautionary,” he said during the committee’s discussion on the hepatitis B shot.

From Barron's