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

Mora, the first-year Rams coach, went nuclear on the sideline late last month at Summers, his defensive coordinator, a holdover from Jay Norvell’s staff and a former CSU interim head coach. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026

Yesterday, Allessandra DiCorato profiled cancer biologist and first-year resident physician Neal Carleton, whose work is focused on improving treatment for older patients with breast cancer. — Sarah Todd, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026

Its Spring insights program, a three-day, in-person workshop allows first-year university students to gain experience of working in Standard Chartered’s corporate and investment bank. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026

Under first-year head coach Parcells (Shannon), Tuggle would inspire and go on to prove that being the last player picked didn’t mean doesn’t mean being the least important. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 8 Oct. 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