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

The first-year starter picked off a deep throw by Oregon State QB Maalik Murphy into triple coverage, caught it in stride, and returned it all the way to the house for a 58-yard pick-six. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 15 Nov. 2026

Michigan was coming off a 15-6 loss at home to rival Michigan State, and a day later the team fired first-year offensive coordinator Jason Beck. — CBS News, 15 Nov. 2026

Something for Harbaugh and the Giants to think about as the first-year coach continues to self-evaluate and seek a winning edge. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 14 Nov. 2026

The 13-year-old began his studies at the prestigious boarding school in September, where first-year Etonians are banned from using smartphones, according to The Telegraph. — Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 14 Nov. 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