seedling

noun

seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ How to pronounce seedling (audio)
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
a
: a young tree before it becomes a sapling
b
: a nursery plant not yet transplanted
seedling adjective

Illustration of seedling

Illustration of seedling
  • 1 primary root
  • 2 rootlet
  • 3 root hairs
  • 4 hypocotyl
  • 5 cotyledon
  • 6 epicotyl
  • 7 true leaf

Examples of seedling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Echoing Sardinas, Amico agrees that fall is the best time to plant milkweed, both as seeds and seedlings. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026 The babies in their bassinets laid out like seedlings in a plot, head to toe, toe to head. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026 The trees will be available for orders in the spring, with customers expected to pick up their seedlings in late spring or early summer. — Dillon Thomas, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 That trip was like the first seedling of what the album could possibly be. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for seedling

Word History

First Known Use

1629, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of seedling was in 1629

Rhymes for seedling

See All Rhymes for seedling

Browse Nearby Words

seedlike
seedling
seedling-rooted
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Seedling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/seedling. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

seedling

noun
seed·​ling ˈsēd-liŋ How to pronounce seedling (audio)
1
: a young plant grown from seed
2
: a tree before it becomes a sapling
seedling adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on seedling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about seedling

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