fledgling

USAGE SUMMARY

"fledgling" is a perfectly acceptable and commonly used word in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that is new, emerging, immature, or inexperienced. Example: She was a fledgling lawyer, having only recently passed her bar exam.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

When having a day-job and a fledgling business project, you don't have time to go hiring or outsourcing, never mind the cash to do so, and it is your baby after all.

The Guardian

This experience later helped persuade Ken Loach to give the fledgling actor his first break as the focus of a team of decorators in Riff Raff.

The Guardian - Film

Around 7.5 million commuters cram themselves into local trains every day and the fledgling metro and monorail are unlikely to make a perceptible difference in the near future.

The Guardian

McGrady, who was then a local councillor in his native Downpatrick, abandoned the ramshackle National Democratic party and joined the fledgling SDLP, becoming its first chairman in 1971.

The Guardian

Klein, a close adviser to Murdoch who joined the News Corp board in November 2010 to run its fledgling education division, used to cross swords with the company's lawyers when he worked as assistant attorney general at the justice department.

The Guardian

The fledgling political institutions were headed for collapse today at midnight because the Ulster Unionist leader, David Trimble, insisted he could not resume his post as first minister unless the IRA began decommissioning arms.

The Guardian

From pirated DVDs to knock-off designer brands, the country has a thriving counterfeit culture, often facilitated by local protectionism and a ­reluctance on the part of the authorities to ­enforce fledgling intellectual property laws.

The Guardian - Arts

However, I would argue that early career researchers are actually missing a world of opportunity in pursuing notions of status, and that working in the apparently "less prestigious" former polytechnic or other newer universities can actually be more beneficial for the fledgling academic.

The Guardian

Boris Johnson has been accused of using Parliament Square as his "private back garden" in an attempt to crush the fledgling Occupy Democracy movement.

The Guardian

Advertising people were, he said recently, deeply condescending about the fledgling Wolff Olins business.

The Guardian

To break the monotony, he adopts an orphaned fledgling sparrow.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a new business or project, use "fledgling" to convey its early stage and potential for growth. This adds a nuanced understanding of its current status.

Common error

Avoid using "fledgling" excessively in overly formal documents. While acceptable, it can sometimes sound less professional than alternatives like "emerging" or "developing".

Linguistic Context

The word "fledgling" functions primarily as an adjective to describe something that is new, young, or inexperienced. Ludwig provides examples from news and media showcasing its descriptive capabilities, for example describing a "fledgling business" or "fledgling party".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "fledgling" is used as an adjective to describe something new, developing, and inexperienced. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and wide usage, particularly in news and media contexts. Related terms include "nascent", "emerging", and "budding", which share the idea of early-stage development. While generally neutral in tone, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives like "emerging" in highly professional settings. Overall, "fledgling" is a versatile word for conveying the initial stages of growth and potential in various entities or endeavors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nascent

Refers to something just coming into existence and starting to develop.

emerging

Describes something that is beginning to appear or develop.

budding

Implies the early stages of growth or development, like a bud on a plant.

developing

Indicates an ongoing process of growth and advancement.

infant

Highlights the very early stage of something's existence, similar to a baby.

newly established

Focuses on the recent creation or setup of something.

rookie

Describes someone in their first year of a sport or profession.

untried

Emphasizes the lack of experience or testing.

inexperienced

Directly points out the lack of experience.

early-stage

Specifies that something is in the initial phases of development.

FAQs

How to use "fledgling" in a sentence?

You can use "fledgling" to describe a new or inexperienced entity, such as a "fledgling" business or a "fledgling" democracy. For example: "The "nascent" company is showing promising growth".

What can I say instead of "fledgling"?

You can use alternatives like "emerging", "nascent", or "budding" depending on the specific context.

Is "fledgling" formal or informal?

"Fledgling" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. It's suitable for both news articles and business reports, but might be less appropriate in very casual conversation.

What's the difference between "fledgling" and "infant"?

"Fledgling" usually describes something new and developing, with an emphasis on inexperience. "Infant" refers to something in its very earliest stages, often implying helplessness or vulnerability. For example, it makes more sense to refer to a "fledgling" company instead of an "infant" company.