Definition

A very young baby, especially one that is less than four weeks old.

Example

The hospital has a special unit for caring for neonates.

Conversation

Did you see the pictures of Sarah's baby yet?

Yes, that little neonate is adorable!

I can't believe how tiny they are at that age.

Right? It's amazing to think they're just a few weeks old.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Neonate → It is formed from "neo-" (from Greek "neos", meaning new) and "natus" (from Latin, meaning born). The word "neonate" refers to a newborn, specifically an infant in the first few weeks after birth.

Memory Tip

Think of 'new' ('neo-') and 'born' ('natus') to remember that a neonate is a newly born infant.

Visually Confused Words