newborn
gb/nˈubɔɹn/ us/nˈubɔɹn/
B1
English
~ 6900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
a very recently born baby
A baby that was born only a short time ago.
Usage pattern:
a newborn [needs] [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun and adjective uses. For a baby, you can say 'They have a newborn' (noun) or 'They have a newborn baby' (adjective + noun). Another mistake is writing *new-born* with a hyphen; in modern English, 'newborn' is usually written as one word.
Synonyms
infant (Slightly more formal and often used in medical or official contexts; can also refer to babies a bit older than a newborn.)
|
new baby (Very common in everyday speech; slightly more informal and emotional than 'newborn'.)
Antonyms
adult (Refers to a fully grown person, the opposite life stage of a newborn baby.)
Collocations
newborn baby
|newborn son
|newborn daughter
|care for a newborn
|hold the newborn
|feed the newborn
Themes
family
|health
|daily life
|body
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The nurse placed the newborn gently in his mother's arms.
- They were exhausted but happy to bring their newborn home from the hospital.
- Visitors are asked to wash their hands before holding the newborn.
- The doctor checked the newborn for any breathing problems.
- She took time off work to care for her newborn.
Learner examples
- The newborn is sleeping in the crib.
- They have a newborn at home now.
- The father is holding the newborn.
- The doctor looks at the newborn.
- The family is very happy with their newborn.
unknown
B1
property
2
recently born (baby or animal)
Used to describe a baby or animal that was born only a short time ago.
Usage pattern:
newborn [baby/child/animal]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes add an extra word and say *newborn baby child* or *newborn infant baby*, which is incorrect. Use only one noun after 'newborn': 'newborn baby', 'newborn child', or 'newborn infant'.
Synonyms
newly born (Less common and a bit more formal or literary; otherwise very close in meaning.)
|
neonatal (Technical medical term usually used before words like 'care' or 'unit' rather than directly before 'baby'.)
Antonyms
full-grown (Describes a person or animal that has reached adult size, the opposite of newborn.)
Collocations
newborn baby
|newborn child
|newborn puppies
|newborn kittens
|newborn care
|newborn period
Themes
family
|health
|nature
|animals
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She showed me photos of her newborn baby.
- The hospital has special rooms for mothers and their newborn babies.
- The farmer kept the newborn lambs inside during the cold night.
- Newborn puppies need to stay close to their mother.
- Extra care is needed when bathing a newborn infant.
Learner examples
- She is holding her newborn baby.
- The newborn kittens are very small.
- This room is for newborn babies and mothers.
- The doctor checks every newborn child.
- Newborn animals sleep a lot.
Noun
B2
entity
3
recently born animal
An animal that was born only a short time ago.
Usage pattern:
a newborn [stays] with its mother
Synonyms
neonate (Technical or scientific; used in veterinary and medical contexts rather than everyday speech.)
Antonyms
adult animal (Refers to a fully grown animal, the opposite life stage of a newborn animal.)
Collocations
newborn calf
|newborn lamb
|newborn foal
|newborn puppy
|newborn litter
Themes
nature
|animals
|agriculture
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The vet checked each newborn before letting it nurse.
- The farmer moved the newborn to a warm, dry stall.
- A newborn must stay close to its mother for warmth.
- They tagged each newborn so they could track its growth.
- The wildlife center released the mother and her newborn back into the forest.
Learner examples
- The cow licks her newborn.
- The vet helps the newborn stand up.
- The newborn stays near its mother.
- They watch the newborn very carefully.
- The farmer feeds the weak newborn.
Grammar
Dictionary form
newborn
IPA
GB/nˈubɔɹn/
US/nˈubɔɹn/
Syllables & stress
new - born (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (new)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: newborn
- Plural: newborns
Word family
Forms
newborns
noun
Core family
birth
noun A2
born
adjective
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
unborn
adjective
Expressions
newborn baby
1/nˈubɔɹn bˈeɪbi/
fixed phrase
a very recently born baby
A baby that was born only a short time ago, usually within the last few weeks.
Examples
- Everyone spoke quietly so they would not wake the newborn baby.
- They posted a photo of their newborn baby on social media.
- The room was filled with gifts for the newborn baby.
newborn care
1/nˈubɔɹn kˈɛɹ/
fixed phrase
care of a newborn baby
All the things parents and nurses do to keep a newborn baby clean, safe, and healthy.
Examples
- The hospital offers a class on basic newborn care for new parents.
- Good newborn care includes feeding on time and watching for signs of illness.
newborn intensive care unit
1/nˈubɔɹn ɪntˈɛnsɪv kˈɛɹ jˈunɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
hospital unit for very ill newborns
A special part of a hospital where very small, early, or very sick newborn babies get strong medical care.
Examples
- The premature twins were taken to the newborn intensive care unit right after delivery.
- She visited her son in the newborn intensive care unit every day.
newborn screening
1/nˈubɔɹn skɹˈinɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
medical tests for newborn babies
Medical tests that doctors do on a baby soon after birth to find some health problems early.
Examples
- Newborn screening can detect several rare but serious conditions.
- In many countries, newborn screening is offered to all babies before they leave the hospital.