first-year

noun

ˈfərst-ˌyir 

variants or first year

plural first-years or first years

: a student in the first year (as at a high school or college) : a first-year student

Experts say fledgling first-years can expect to experience the thrill of autonomy, of being in the driver's seat for what may be the first time ever.

—Jan McCoy Ebbets

Examples of first-year in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Today’s Four Questions interviewee is first-year Clinch County coach Rance Morgan, whose team will play at home Friday against Fitzgerald. — Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Edgewater enjoyed a magical football season in 2025, winning its first 12 games under first-year coach Patrick Browning before running into the Lakeland buzz-saw in a Class 5A state quarterfinal game. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Aug. 2026

Senior wide receiver Luke Sickmeir, who had 33 catches for 782 yards, gives first-year senior quarterback Cooper Karaszewski a talented target, and all-state wrestler Finn Loomis is back to anchor both lines. — Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 19 Aug. 2026

The Gators presumably would be on the upward trend under first-year coach Jon Sumrall. — Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for first-year

• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere
• microsphere
• miserere
• mountaineer