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

One of the two first-round picks acquired from Green Bay in that deal led to a trade for standout defensive tackle Quinnen Williams of the New York Jets, a move that helped spark a three-game winning streak under first-year Coach Brian Schottenheimer. —Arkansas Online, 7 Jan. 2026

The presser came on the heels of the firing of first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after a porous season defensively that put the Cowboys dead-last in points allowed and 30th in total yards allowed across the NFL. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Jan. 2026

Hall and Purter also could factor as first-year freshmen. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2026

So, too, is the first-year coach’s confidence. —Josh Yohe, New York Times, 7 Jan. 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