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preemie

American  
[pree-mee] / ˈpri mi /

noun

Informal.
  1. an infant born prematurely; a preterm.


preemie British  
/ ˈpriːmɪ /

noun

  1. slang a premature infant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of preemie

1925–30; prem(ature), respelled to represent the pronunciation unambiguously + -ie

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

When Kirstie Rickert’s daughter was born a preemie two years ago, diaper rashes were a major and relentless struggle.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 10, 2026

You may have heard the term "preemie" before, perhaps when a loved one delivered a baby more than three weeks before the expected due date.

From Salon Aug. 7, 2023

Many dolls are made to fit preemie, newborn, or even Build-a-Bear clothes.

From The Verge Mar. 10, 2022

"He was a preemie, so to me this is even more of an issue."

From Fox News Feb. 9, 2022

She knit preemie caps for the nursery at the nearby hospital, crocheted blankets for the shelter, and helped organize the food bank.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

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