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Definition of preemie

preemie

/ˈpriːmi/
(UK: premmie)
preem · ie
Plural:preemies
•
Adjective:premature
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preemie Lexical Profile

preemie Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A baby born prematurely, typically before the thirty-seventh week of gestation.

Example

"The hospital's neonatal intensive care unit is equipped with specialized incubators to support tiny preemies."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for preemie

• Rhymes for preemie

• Nearby Words

predominate
preeclampsia
preelection
preemie
preeminence
preeminent
preeminently

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in North American English in the 1920s by clipping the adjective 'premature' (as in 'premature baby') and adding the diminutive suffix '-ie'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Preemie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/preemie
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