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; 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

The most complicated case of the finale episode comes when a patient needs emergency surgery to extract her baby, then a second team in the room works to save the oxygen-starved newborn.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

They exposed newborn mice to low-oxygen conditions similar to altitudes above 13,000 feet for about a week.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2026

That’s what the couple — call him Taylor and her Tay — wrote Thursday in a social media post announcing that a newborn was in their future.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 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

Acting as if we’re in the synagogue rather than on the side of the road, Father sings a few prayers in honor of the newborn girl.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar