What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
plantling
Example
The garden center sells a variety of plantlings for those who want to start their garden from scratch. [plantling: noun]
Example
Be careful not to overwater the plantling, as it is still very delicate. [plantling: adjective]
seedling
Example
I planted some seedlings in my garden last week, and they are starting to grow nicely. [seedlings: noun]
Example
The farmer carefully tended to the seedling crops, ensuring they had enough water and nutrients to grow strong. [seedling: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Seedling is more commonly used than plantling in everyday language, especially in gardening and agriculture contexts. Plantling is less common and can be used more broadly.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between plantling and seedling?
Seedling has a more technical and scientific connotation, making it more formal than plantling, which is more casual and informal.
