# fledgling

/ˈfɫɛdʒɫɪŋ/ (US) · /flˈɛdʒlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fledgling
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a person or organization that is new and lacks experience. It can also mean a young bird that has just grown its feathers and is learning to fly.

For teachers: an inexperienced person or a nascent organization; literally, a young bird that has recently acquired its flight feathers. Often used metaphorically to describe entities in the earliest stages of development.

## Examples

- The fledgling company is still looking for its first office.
- The government provided grants to support fledgling tech startups during their first year of operation.
- While the fledgling democracy faced significant internal strife, international observers remained hopeful that its first free elections would establish a foundation for long-term stability.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as a noun-modifier (e.g., 'fledgling industry') to indicate a lack of maturity or experience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.