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

This answer may not only prove fatal to her newborn political career.

From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026

"Instead of bonding with my newborn and settling into life with two children, I was learning how to survive a stroke," said Becki.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

The bay duiker antelope, for example, gives birth to offspring that weigh about as much as the estimated newborn C. theotonicus.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026

Its makers priced a season’s protection at a fraction of the old drug’s cost, delivered it in a single shot, and chased a recommendation for every newborn in America rather than a lucrative few.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026

The sources agree that Mary and Joseph fled the wrath of King Herod, since Herod had heard a prophecy about a newborn Messiah.

From "Zero: The Biography of a Dangerous Idea" by Charles Seife

The draw of Trump accounts is straightforward for families with newborns: Babies born between 2025 and 2028 are eligible for a free $1,000 deposit from the federal government.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 14, 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

The probe also found 59 sleeping bags with hoods or without armholes and 37 sleep pillows marketed for newborns, despite concerns about suffocation and overheating, as well as NHS safe sleep guidance.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Although at this point, newborns will only be eligible for the free $1,000 through 2028, the report modeled what could happen if the money was given to babies born over an entire decade.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

The two Nurturers unwrapped the blankets and laid the identical newborns on the bed.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry