newborn

American  

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

adjective

1. recently or only just born.

2. born anew; reborn.

   a newborn faith in human goodness.

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noun

plural

newborn, newborns

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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Etymology

Origin of newborn

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; 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

Ellis and Tom are shipped off to Vietnam, leaving June and her newborn with June’s mom and aunt.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

As your circumstances require, you can add a newborn child, change your profession, update your bank-account information, put in a new address or add a business.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Another fire in 2021 at a newborn care unit in Bhandara district in western state Maharashtra killed 10 infants.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

Her trainer, drilling the models with the precision of a military sergeant when AFP visited, said many were like "newborn babies" when they started.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Lumbering around like a newborn colt, I spun to get up and hug Ma.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye