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

Anistin Murray is a freshman at the Catholic school located in the heart of the Big Easy. —Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 26 Dec. 2025

Florida’s rebuild under its new staff will no longer feature the star that captivated its reeling fanbase as a true freshman by winning four consecutive games to end the 2024 season, passing for … most Gators are tired of hearing that tale. —Noah White, Miami Herald, 26 Dec. 2025

Weaver entered the game after an injury on the previous play to freshman starter Micah Alejado, who engineered a rally from 21 points down. —Jeff Faraudo, Mercury News, 25 Dec. 2025

McDowell, who practiced all season but did not play in games a year ago as a redshirt after playing sparingly as a freshman, carries himself as a confident player not surprised by his success. —Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 25 Dec. 2025

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)