newborn

American  

[noo-bawrn, nyoo-] / ˈnuˈbɔrn, ˈnju- /

adjective

1. recently or only just born.

2. born anew; reborn.

   a newborn faith in human goodness.

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noun

• newborn,
  plural
• newborns
  plural

1. a newborn infant; neonate.

newborn British  

/ ˈnjuːˌbɔːn /

adjective

1. 1. recently or just born

   2. ( as collective noun; preceded by the )

      the newborn

2. (of hope, faith, etc) reborn

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• newborn
  plural
• newborns
  plural

Etymology

Origin of newborn

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at new, born

Explanation

A newborn is literally a baby animal (including us human animals) who was born in the past month. Figuratively, newborn describes anything recently born or created, like a newborn interest in vocabulary. Little babies are newborns until they're a month old — four weeks is the official human newborn cut-off age. Then they’re just regular ol’ babies. Other things can be newborn as long as they’re brand new — a newborn restaurant was opened recently, a newborn celebrity might be 18 but she just got famous. You could have a newborn fear if you recently became scared of something. Most newborns are not scary, though. (Unless you’re babysitting one.)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

newborn newborns

On Sept. 9, deputies got a tip that a couple was living with a newborn baby under an Interstate 5 overpass, the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

Planets can then grow from material left over around the newborn star, gradually gathering matter and shaping paths through the surrounding disk.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 17, 2026

And then if you have more than one child, you may well be managing that defiant toddler while simultaneously experiencing the hormone crash, the sleeplessness, the bobble-headed feeling of the newborn period all over again.

From Slate ● Sep. 5, 2026

The family of a first-time mum who died in childbirth say her newborn son is the "light" that's keeping them going through their grief.

From BBC ● Aug. 31, 2026

There was no answer but a weak mewl, as if from a newborn kitten.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson

It found no evidence that the staff in the unit had been trained or had ever rehearsed how to evacuate the ward of newborns, many of whom were premature or "medically fragile".

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

Since then, she’s had at least 10 patients—mostly younger children, newborns and infants—with measles.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

The researchers excluded non-placental mammals that lay eggs or harbor their newborns in belly-pouches and produce extremely small younglings from these calculations.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

Parents of children with a rare genetic condition say they fear Wales is being left behind as other parts of the UK introduce routine screening for newborns.

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

“It s timed, over at the Birthing Unit, so we don t get a batch of newborns late in the year. Parents being given newchildren don't want brand-new ones.”

From "Son" by Lois Lowry