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.
The New England Patriots are having an impressive season under first-year head coach Mike Vrabel, entering the final two weeks of the season with a record of 12-3. Matt Schooley, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025 On Sunday, after soundly outplaying the Broncos in all three phases of the game in a 34-20 Jaguars win, first-year Jacksonville head coach Liam Coen threw a not-so-subtle jab at Payton in the opening minutes of his press conference. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025 Under first-year coach Sean Melendez, Aliso Niguel flashed its potential when at full-strength. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 21 Dec. 2025 The unit, revamped under first-year defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman from a liability last season into one of the best in the country this season, did everything in its power to contain the Texas A&M Aggies, to keep them off the scoreboard. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Dec. 2025 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 24 Dec. 2025.

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