premie

Meanings

1. 1nouncountableinformalAmerican

   A baby born too early, before the usual length of pregnancy is complete.

   Grammar: Informal, usually warm in tone; hospitals use premature baby.

   Patterns

   • a premie

   Our daughter was a premie and spent three weeks in the neonatal unit.

   The nurses gave the tiny premie a knitted cap.

   He was born a premie but is healthy now.

2. 2nouncountableinformalrare

   An informal short form for premium, as in a premium fuel or payment.

   Grammar: Very informal and uncommon; usually spelled out as premium.

   The station sells premie gas at a higher price.

   They paid a premie for the extra legroom.

   Is it a premie ticket or a standard one?

Word forms

Common combinations

born a premie

She was born a premie, weighing only three pounds.

tiny premie

The tiny premie fit in her father's hand.

premie baby

A premie baby needs special care.

premie unit

The nurse works in the premie unit.

former premie

He is a former premie who now runs marathons.

Synonyms and how they differ

preemie

Preemie is the more common spelling of the same word.

premature baby

Premature baby is the neutral phrase used in medical and formal contexts.

preterm infant

Preterm infant is a technical medical term and sounds clinical, unlike premie.

Opposites

Word family

premature adjective

happening too early

prematurely adverb

before the proper time

prematurity noun

the state of being born early

Commonly confused: premie or premier? premie or premium?

Practice

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