premature

[ pree-muh-choor, -toor, -tyoor, pree-muh-choor or, especially British, prem-uh-, prem-uh- ]

/ ˌpri məˈtʃʊər, -ˈtʊər, -ˈtyʊər, ˈpri məˌtʃʊər or, especially British, ˌprɛm ə-, ˈprɛm ə- /

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Definition of premature

adjective

occurring, coming, or done too soon: a premature announcement.

mature or ripe before the proper time.

noun

a premature infant.

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Origin of premature

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

OTHER WORDS FROM premature

pre·ma·ture·ly, adverbpre·ma·tu·ri·ty, pre·ma·ture·ness, nounun·pre·ma·ture, adjectiveun·pre·ma·ture·ly, adverb

un·pre·ma·ture·ness, noun

Words nearby premature

prelusive, prem., premalignant, Premarin, premarital, premature, premature atrial contraction, premature birth, premature delivery, premature ejaculation, premature labor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use premature in a sentence

Nothing has dimmed the fundamental appeal of urban life, despite what some premature obituaries for the nation’s great cities may say.
In defense of California|James Temple|September 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review
That 2017 report had called use of the technology premature but endorsed it as morally permissible.
The “staged rollout” of gene-modified babies could start with sickle-cell disease|Amy Nordrum|September 3, 2020|MIT Technology Review
Still, some critics charge that even presenting such criteria is premature.
Strict new guidelines lay out a path to heritable human gene editing|Tina Hesman Saey|September 3, 2020|Science News
It will also attach links to official results to posts from candidates and campaigns that declare premature victories.
Facebook aims to minimize misinformation, will restrict new political ads in the week prior to the election|radmarya|September 3, 2020|Fortune

The initial rebound reflects the lifting of severe restrictions to contain the virus, and policy makers have warned against premature optimism that the worst has passed.
Global trade is recovering faster from COVID-19 than it did from the 2008 crisis|Claire Zillman, reporter|September 1, 2020|Fortune
Premature buzz over Girls built into a mountain of hype that was unscalable for Dunham.
HBO’s ‘Looking,’ Gays, and Sex: Are We All Expecting Too Much?|Kevin Fallon|January 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Premature infants in neonatal intensive care are at high risk for infection.
Big Data’s Powerful Effect on Tiny Babies|CNBC|September 18, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Premature darkness was accompanied with torrents of rain, through which we followed our now uncertain guides.
Famous Adventures And Prison Escapes of the Civil War|Various
Premature charge to be avoided; charging without authority from the rear.
Manual of Military Training|James A. Moss
Premature decay is always the result, showing with certainty that a healthy action has not been going on.
A Treatise on Sheep:|Ambrose Blacklock
Premature baldness most frequently first attacks that part of the head where pressure is made by the hat.
Scientific American Supplement, Vol. XV., No. 388, June 9, 1883|Various
Premature action might injure a cause which they wished, above all others, to benefit.
Great Events in the History of North and South America|Charles A. Goodrich

British Dictionary definitions for premature

premature

/ (ˌprɛməˈtjʊə, ˈprɛməˌtjʊə) /

adjective

occurring or existing before the normal or expected time

impulsive or hastya premature judgment

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

Derived forms of premature

prematurely, adverbprematureness or prematurity, noun

Word Origin for premature

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

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

Medical definitions for premature

premature

[ prē′mə-chur′, -tur′ ]

adj.

Occurring or developing before the usual or expected time.

Born after a gestation period of less than the normal time, especially, in human infants, after a period of less than 37 weeks.

Other words from premature

pre′ma•tu′ri•ty n.

premature

Definition of premature

Origin of premature

OTHER WORDS FROM premature

Words nearby premature

Words related to premature

How to use premature in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for premature

Derived forms of premature

Word Origin for premature

Medical definitions for premature

Other words from premature