nascent

[nas-uhnt, ney-suhnt]

adjective

1. beginning to exist or develop.

   That nascent republic is holding its first election this month.

2. Chemistry.,  (of an element) in the nascent state.

nascent

/ ˈneɪ-, ˈnæsənt /

adjective

1. starting to grow or develop; being born

2. chem (of an element or simple compound, esp hydrogen) created within the reaction medium in the atomic form and having a high activity

Other Word Forms

• nascence noun
• nascency noun
• unnascent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nascent¹

First recorded in 1615–25; from Latin nāscent-, stem of nāscēns “being born,” present participle of nāscī “to be born, arise”

Word History and Origins

Origin of nascent¹

C17: from Latin nascēns present participle of nāscī to be born

Example Sentences

Her victory was a shot in the arm for a nascent activist left.

From Los Angeles Times

Back in the 1980s when the internet was still in its infancy, countries were being handed their own unique website addresses to navigate this nascent new online world.

From BBC

Millions of dollars have already flowed into the nascent campaigns sparring over the Nov. 4 special-election ballot measure that asks voters to set aside the congressional boundaries drawn in 2021 by California’s independent redistricting commission.

From Los Angeles Times

It also doubles as a warning to other potential candidates about the establishment firepower behind Solis’ nascent campaign, despite the seat she’s angling for not actually existing yet.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s self-satisfied and loves to have people fawn over him, but his star is still nascent enough for Oliver to retain some naivete.

From Salon

Related Words

• burgeoning 
• fledgling 
• growing 
• incipient 
• promising