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Definition of premature

premature

/ˌpriːməˈtʃʊər/
pre · ma · ture
Adverb:prematurely
•
Plural:prematures
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premature Lexical Profile

premature Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Occurring, done, or arriving before the proper, usual, or expected time.

Example

"The committee decided that any public announcement regarding the merger would be premature."

2

Born before the end of the normal period of gestation (especially prior to 37 weeks of pregnancy in humans).

Example

"The hospital's neonatal intensive care unit is equipped to care for premature infants."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• noun

1

An infant born before the full period of gestation.

Example

"Advances in neonatal medicine have greatly improved the survival rate of prematures."

Synonyms
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• Rhymes for premature

• Nearby Words

premarket
premarriage
prematch
premature
prematurely
prematurity
premeal

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the 16th century from Latin praematurus ('very early, untimely'), formed from prae- ('before') and maturus ('ripe, timely').

Cite this Entry

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