freshman

noun

fresh·​man ˈfresh-mən 

often attributive

1

: a student in the first year of high school or college

2

: beginner, newcomer

especially : a person who is starting a job or activity

freshman lawmakers

Synonyms of freshman

• novice
• rookie
• newcomer
• beginner
• apprentice

Examples of freshman in a Sentence

My daughter's a freshman at UCLA.

He was the best freshman in professional basketball this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Most of the attention regarding this draft has focused on the phenomenal freshman class. —Dallas Morning News, 18 Mar. 2026

Junior forward Paulius Murauskas of Lithuania came to Moraga two years ago from Arizona after hardly playing as a freshman. —Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026

Or does this team, despite starting three freshmen, have the resiliency necessary to survive and advance? —Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

The other finalists are Boston College sophomore forward James Hagens, Michigan senior forward TJ Hughes, Penn State freshman forward Gavin McKenna, Dartmouth sophomore forward Hayden Stavroff, Sacred Heart senior forward Felix Trudeau and Quinnipiac freshman forward Ethan Wyttenbach. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing freshman

• freshman orientation
• pre-freshman

Rhymes for freshman

• freshmen

Kids Definition

freshman

noun

fresh·​man ˈfresh-mən 

1

: beginner, newcomer

2

: a student in the first year (as of high school or college)