1. Young bird that has just fledged or become capable of flying
   "The fledgling robin took its first tentative flight from the nest";
   - fledgeling
    
2. Any new participant in some activity
   "The experienced climbers welcomed the fledgling to their mountaineering club";
   - newcomer, fledgeling, starter, neophyte, freshman [N. Amer], newbie [informal], entrant, newb [non-standard], noob [non-standard], n00b [non-standard], shavetail [N. Amer, informal]

1. (of a young bird) having acquired its flight feathers
   "a fledgling robin";
   - fledgeling
    
2. Young and inexperienced
   "a fledgling enterprise";
   - unfledged, callow

Derived forms: fledglings

See also: fledged, green [informal], inexperienced, inexperient [non-standard], mature, wet behind the ears

Type of: beginner, initiate, novice, rookie [informal], tiro, tyro, young bird

Encyclopedia: Fledgling