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

For high school freshmen, that number was even lower, at just 38% meeting grade level on the English I STAAR exam. — Samuel O’Neal 31, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2026

Whittingham acknowledged that Underwood’s numbers need to improve while suggesting that expectations may have been too high for an 18-year-old freshman. — Austin Meek, New York Times, 31 July 2026

During the group panel discussion, Alexander was asked about Georgia coach Kirby Smart and his son Andrew, who is a rising freshman quarterback for the Spartans. — Hunter Delauder, AJC.com, 30 July 2026

But while those three are set, ballyhooed true freshman Jackson Cantwell is the name most will be keeping eyes on. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 30 July 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)