preemie

[ pree-mee ]

noun

, Informal.

1. an infant born prematurely; a preterm.

preemie

/ ˈpriːmɪ /

noun

1. slang.
   a premature infant

Word History and Origins

Origin of preemie¹

1925–30; prem(ature), respelled to represent the pronunciation unambiguously + -ie

Word History and Origins

Origin of preemie¹

C20: altered from premature

Example Sentences

He hopes that there will be more research about what ventilator settings might lead to the best outcomes for preemies.

From Science Daily

The child has since been transported to a neonatal intensive care unit in Albany, where he’s been able to receive preemie care much closer to home.

From Seattle Times

You may have heard the term "preemie" before, perhaps when a loved one delivered a baby more than three weeks before the expected due date.

From Salon

Some of their observations, shared before peer review but since formally published, were striking: Across Denmark, for instance, numbers of the smallest preemies were down by 90 percent.

From New York Times

Not giving enough oxygen could be dire for preemies with undeveloped lungs.

From Scientific American

Related Words

• babe
• chick
• child
• kid
• toddler
• youngster