English · Word Candidate

premature

/ˌpɹɛ.məˈtjʊə/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: prematures

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Occurring before a state of readiness or maturity has arrived.

Adjective

a premature birth

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

Taking place earlier than anticipated, prepared for, or desired.

Adjective

I was lost in reveries of death, and the idea of premature burial held continual possession of my brain.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

An infant born prematurely.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “premature” mean?

Occurring before a state of readiness or maturity has arrived.

Is “premature” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.