premature

[pree-muh-choor, -toor, -tyoor, pree-muh-choor, prem-uh-, prem-uh-]

adjective

1. occurring, coming, or done too soon.

   a premature announcement.

2. mature or ripe before the proper time.

noun

1. a premature infant.

premature

/ ˌprɛməˈtjʊə, ˈprɛməˌtjʊə /

adjective

1. occurring or existing before the normal or expected time

2. impulsive or hasty

   a premature judgment

3. (of an infant) weighing less than 2500 g (5 1/ 2 lbs) and usually born before the end of the full period of gestation

Other Word Forms

• prematurely adverb
• prematurity noun
• prematureness noun
• unpremature adjective
• unprematurely adverb
• unprematureness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of premature¹

From the Latin word praemātūrus, dating back to 1520–30. See pre-, mature

Word History and Origins

Origin of premature¹

C16: from Latin praemātūrus, very early, from prae in advance + mātūrus ripe

Example Sentences

According to estimates, the IMO regulation has already prevented tens of thousands of premature deaths.

Read more on Science Daily

That obituary has been written many times, and it’s always been premature.

Read more on Salon

In some ways, the numbers showed why those fears are premature, and why some air coming out of the AI bubble might actually turn out to be helpful for Nvidia.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Abandoning LNG in a premature push to adopt ammonia or methanol could undermine business continuity and discourage investments.

Read more on Barron's

Abandoning LNG in a premature push to adopt ammonia or methanol could undermine business continuity and discourage investments.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• immature 
• incomplete 
• untimely