nascent

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "nascent" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe something that is just starting to develop or emerge. For example, "The nascent business was starting to grow rapidly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The nascent Japanese whisky industry was built on Scottish components: Scottish stills, Scottish barley and even, it is alleged, Scottish water, were shipped to Japan.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Graffiti artists bridged the gap between the downtown galleries and the nascent South Bronx hip-hop scene.

The Guardian - Music

Public support for the protest and the nascent new university movement appears to be high.

The Guardian

This is Kielder Observatory, the centre of Britain's nascent astrotourism industry.

The Guardian

Without that nascent partnership, delivery of the peace process would undoubtedly have been harder and longer to nurture.

The Guardian

In the late 60s, when he was a young French teacher in his home city of Derry, he plunged into the nascent civil rights campaign.

The Guardian

It was built to keep rival gangs of nationalist and loyalist youths from rioting in the park despite the nascent peace process.

The Guardian

Despite having staged what he describes as "several terrible productions" at university, he speedily got a job at the Chichester Festival Theatre, and within no time at all was running the nascent Minerva Studio for its first season.

The Guardian - Film

A nascent league system was quickly back in place but it was July 1949 before the German FA, the DFB, came back into being.

The Guardian - Sport

There has been a nascent debate in Australia about high-wealth individuals, corporate interests and other third parties becoming more substantial players than at any time in our history.

The Guardian

So the collider is about to resume its journey back in time, to probe the strange forces and entities that must have existed in some dense, hot, viscous broth that filled the nascent universe, before ordinary matter started to precipitate, as space started to expand and time to tick.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "nascent" to describe entities or concepts in their earliest stages of development when you want to emphasize their potential for future growth or impact. For example, "nascent democracies" or "nascent technologies".

Common error

Avoid confusing "nascent", which describes a developmental stage, with "naive", which describes a lack of experience or sophistication. "Nascent" focuses on potential, while "naive" focuses on a current state of unawareness.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "nascent" is as a qualifying adjective. It modifies nouns, indicating that they are in an early stage of development or existence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correctly used to describe something just starting to emerge.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "nascent" functions as an adjective to describe something in its initial stages of development, carrying a tone of potential and emergence. It is grammatically correct and frequently appears in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts, as Ludwig AI confirms. While synonyms like "emerging" and "budding" offer alternatives, "nascent" uniquely emphasizes the early beginning phase. Remember to use it to highlight potential growth, and avoid confusing it with words like "naive". The multiple examples available on Ludwig indicate that this word is correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

emerging

Indicates a state of coming into existence or prominence, similar to "nascent" but with a broader application.

budding

Implies potential growth and development, akin to "nascent" but often used for talents or relationships.

developing

Focuses on the process of growth, similar to "nascent" but emphasizes ongoing progress.

inceptive

Highlights the beginning stage, sharing the "nascent" focus on commencement.

incipient

Describes the initial stage of something, like a disease or trend, similar to "nascent" in its early phase indication.

embryonic

Refers to something in a very early stage of development, closely related to "nascent" in describing initial phases.

germinal

Signifies the starting point from which development occurs, mirroring "nascent" in its origination connotation.

fledgling

Indicates newness and inexperience, similar to "nascent" but often used for organizations or individuals.

inchoate

Describes something not fully formed or developed, akin to "nascent" in its incompleteness aspect.

newly formed

Directly states the recent formation of something, sharing the "nascent" attribute of recent origin.

FAQs

How can I use "nascent" in a sentence?

You can use "nascent" to describe something that is just beginning to develop. For example, "The country's "nascent democracy" faced many challenges".

What words can I use instead of "nascent"?

Alternatives to "nascent" include "emerging", "developing", or "budding", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to describe an idea as "nascent"?

Yes, describing an idea as "nascent" is correct when the idea is in its early stages of formulation or consideration. It emphasizes that the idea is "newly formed" and still developing.

What is the difference between "nascent" and "inchoate"?

Both "nascent" and "inchoate" describe something in its early stages. However, "nascent" implies potential for growth, while "inchoate" suggests that something is "not fully formed" or defined yet. "Nascent" is more optimistic in tone.