first-year

noun

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
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.
On the other sideline, there’s FAMU, a school looking to regain its status as one of preeminent programs in HBCU football under first-year coach Gray. Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026 But the full story, told by both player and coach in their postgame press conferences, paints a very different picture — one of trust, competitive fire and a first-year partnership that clearly ran deeper than a single tournament game. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026 Having faced Big Ten physicality all season, first-year Iowa coach Ben McCollum’s team went toe to toe with Florida’s punishing front court. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026 Bill negotiation services cost 35% to 60% of the first-year savings, if the negotiation is successful. Harlan Vaughn, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for first-year

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of first-year was in 1986

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Cite this Entry

“First-year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first-year. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.

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