unfledged

[ uhn-flejd ]

adjective

1. not fledged; fledged; without sufficient feathers for flight, as a young bird.
2. immature; callow.

unfledged

/ ʌnˈflɛdʒd /

adjective

1. (of a young bird) not having developed adult feathers
2. immature and undeveloped

Word History and Origins

Origin of unfledged¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; un- ¹ + fledged

Example Sentences

But for the unfledged, it’s not that easy or welcoming.

From Los Angeles Times

“Boy and girl. Aren’t they beauties?” said the proud papa, beaming upon the little red squirmers as if they were unfledged angels.

From Literature

“He looks so different,” he says after a long minute, gazing down at the baby Henry on the page and his easy, unfledged sureness.

From Literature

What do you do when your wacky stage play is bordering on unfledged critical catastrophe?

From Los Angeles Times

"Aha," I said to my unfledged self, "No wonder so many people make derisive comments about this stuff."

From New York Times

Related Words

• immature
• inept
• naive
• undisciplined
• unschooled
• unsophisticated
• untried
• young