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

Years ago my wife and I lost a newborn baby to a bacterial infection.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

Astronomers have generally expected that much of the gas around these young galaxies would still have been nearly pristine, consisting mostly of hydrogen and helium, the basic elements that dominated the newborn cosmos.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 2, 2026

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

Molly said both she and Elsie are now doing well, with the newborn described as a "really contented baby".

From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026

It was like a dance, a dance in the stink of sheep and the smell of newborn steam coming off the lambs and the sounds of them, mothers and lambs, finding one another and love.

From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen

That month, the federal government also started putting $1,000 in the accounts created for newborns.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 1, 2026

In Riverside County, newborns can be surrendered at most hospitals and fire stations.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 26, 2026

He added the community has been especially concerned about the dangers to babies; so far two newborns have died of measles complications, as well as an 18-year-old and a 40-year-old woman, according to state officials.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

Approximately 2.3 to 2.5 million newborns worldwide are affected by congenital heart disease each year.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 15, 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