newborn

1 of 2

adjective

new·​born ˈnü-ˌbȯrn How to pronounce newborn (audio)
ˈnyü-
Synonyms of newbornnext
1
: recently born
2
: born anew

newborn

2 of 2

noun

plural newborn or newborns
: a newborn individual

Synonyms of newborn

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Adjective

Noun

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Examples of newborn in a Sentence

Adjective felt like a newborn activist after that pep rally Noun a mother goat and all of her newborn intentionally bought clothes that were too big for her newborn but which undoubtedly would fit him in a few months
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
One of this season’s major storylines is Gallagher juggling his bosun duties on the yacht while trying to be present for Cameron and their newborn son, who were living nearby in Croatia. — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 4 Sep. 2026 Around the same time, the family took emergency custody of a close relative’s newborn daughter. — Moriah Balingit, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
More and more now, parents were refusing the routine vitamin K shot given to newborns to help their blood clot, and doctors were starting to see babies hemorrhaging because of it. — Eric Boodman, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026 When a person is immunized during pregnancy, the risk of symptomatic disease fell by 44% in their newborns up to 6 months old. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for newborn

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1786, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of newborn was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing newborn

Browse Nearby Words

new blue
newborn
New Braunfels
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Cite this Entry

“Newborn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/newborn. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

newborn

1 of 2 adjective
new·​born ˈn(y)ü-ˈbȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce newborn (audio)
1
: recently born
2
: born anew

newborn

2 of 2 noun
plural newborn or newborns
: a newborn individual

Medical Definition

newborn

1 of 2 adjective
new·​born ˈn(y)ü-ˈbȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce newborn (audio)
1
: recently born
a newborn infant
2
: affecting or relating to the newborn

newborn

2 of 2 noun
new·​born -ˌbȯ(ə)rn How to pronounce newborn (audio)
plural newborn or newborns
: a newborn infant : neonate
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