Meaning & use
fledglings
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“fledglings” is a form of “fledgling”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralbiology
Young birds that have grown their flight feathers and are just beginning to leave the nest.
Grammar: Plural of fledgling: one fledgling, two fledglings.
Patterns
- fledglings in something
- fledglings from something
Two fledglings hopped across the lawn while their parents watched.
The fledglings flapped their wings nervously at the edge of the nest.
Volunteers guard the fledglings from cats until they can fly.
nounpluralfigurative
New or inexperienced people, groups or organizations that are only just starting to develop.
Grammar: Figurative use for beginners or young bodies: fledgling companies.
Patterns
- fledglings in an industry
The program supports fledglings in the music industry.
Banks were wary of lending money to fledglings with no track record.
The editor enjoys working with fledglings who still have a lot to learn.
adjectivebefore a noun
Used as the plural noun, but the word also appears before nouns in the adjective fledgling, meaning just starting out.
Grammar: Fledgling is the adjective; fledglings itself is the noun, as in fledgling democracies.
Patterns
- fledgling democracies
The report studies fledgling democracies in the region.
Fledgling companies need funding in their first year.
The fund backs fledgling artists who have yet to find an audience.
Word forms
| singular | fledgling |
|---|
Common combinations
- fledglings leave the nest
- The fledglings leave the nest in late spring.
- feed the fledglings
- Both parents feed the fledglings insects.
- fledglings in the industry
- Mentors help fledglings in the industry.
- fragile fledglings
- Fragile fledglings are easy prey for cats.
- support fledglings
- The council aims to support fledglings in business.
Synonyms and how they differ
- nestlings
- Nestlings are younger birds still in the nest, while fledglings have feathers and are leaving.
- chicks
- Chicks is a broader everyday word for baby birds of any age.
- beginners
- Beginners is a plain word for people starting out, but fledglings suggests a delicate, early stage.
- newcomers
- Newcomers stresses arriving recently, not necessarily being immature.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fledglings or fledgelings? fledglings or hatchlings?
fledglings vs fledgelings
Fledgelings is a misspelling; the standard word has no e before the l.
fledglings vs hatchlings
Hatchlings have just come out of eggs and are not yet feathered; fledglings are further along and nearly able to fly.
Practice
The young birds that have grown feathers and are leaving the nest for the first time are called ___.
Choose one answer.
Fledglings have flight feathers and are leaving the nest. Hatchlings are newly hatched, embryos are unborn, and larvae are insect young.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fledglings”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.