fledging

/ˈflɛdʒɪŋ/

Say it: FLEJ-ing

1. verb (Of a young bird) to develop the feathers needed for flying.
The robin chicks are expected to begin fledging in the next few days.
2. verb To care for (a young bird) until it is able to fly.
The wildlife rescue center is currently fledging three orphaned owlets.
3. verb To bring a project, company, or person to a state of maturity or independence.
She spent a decade fledging the small nonprofit into a national organization.
🇪🇸 incipiente

📖 Seen in the wild

In order to ensure the success of our fledgling democracy, we must remain vigilant.
collected by @missha

✏️ fledging in a sentence

The documentary featured incredible slow-motion footage of the peregrine falcon chicks fledging.
After months of hard work, we are finally fledging our new software product into the market.
The parent birds work tirelessly, bringing food to the nest until the young are done fledging.
He saw his role as a mentor as fledging his apprentices into master craftsmen.
According to the wildlife preserve, the condor pair is fledging a healthy chick for the third year in a row.
It's a delicate time; the slightest disturbance could prevent the chicks from fledging successfully.

🔁 Synonyms

nurturing rearing raising fostering maturing developing cultivating

nurturing · is broader, implying general care and encouragement for growth, not specifically towards independence.

rearing · focuses on the entire process of raising a child or animal from a young age.

raising · is a very general term for bringing up young, less specific than fledging.

fostering · implies promoting development, often in a supportive or temporary capacity.

🌱 Where it comes from

Fledging comes from the verb 'fledge', rooted in the Old English word 'flycge', meaning 'feathered' or 'fit to fly'. This term is a direct relative of the modern word 'fly'. The meaning has remained remarkably consistent, always tied to the idea of developing the means for independence, whether it's a bird growing feathers or a business finding its wings.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

fledging from the nestsuccessfully fledgingfledging its first chickfledging a new company

The most common point of confusion is between 'fledging' and 'fledgling'. 'Fledging' is a verb form describing the process of developing feathers or becoming independent. 'Fledgling' is the noun for a young bird that has just grown its flight feathers, or the adjective describing something new and inexperienced (e.g., 'a fledgling democracy'). While you might hear 'a fledging company', the more standard and widely accepted term is 'a fledgling company'.

Word family: fledge, fledgling, unfledged

💬 Quick answers

What does fledging mean?

Fledging is the process a young bird goes through to grow the feathers it needs for flight. Figuratively, it means bringing a project or person to a state of independence.

What's the difference between 'fledging' and 'fledgling'?

'Fledging' is the verb for the action of developing feathers or becoming independent. 'Fledgling' is the noun for the young bird itself, or the adjective describing something new and inexperienced, like 'a fledgling startup'.

How is 'fledging' used in a sentence?

As a verb, you could say, 'The chicks are fledging and will leave the nest soon.' Figuratively, one might say, 'The incubator is dedicated to fledging new tech companies.'

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