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

• abecedarian
• apprentice
• babe
• beginner
• colt
• cub
• fledgling
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• newbie
• newcomer
• novice
• novitiate
• punk
• recruit
• rook
• rookie
• tenderfoot
• tyro
• virgin

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

Authorities didn’t publicly identify the girls, but all three were going to be freshmen, according to the Stewardson-Strasburg Community Unit school district. —Tanasia Kenney, Kansas City Star, 12 July 2024

From the Sports Desk How Tyran Stokes, other top local high school basketball players have performed in summer Louisville football jersey numbers: What to know about Jeff Brohm's freshman class Thank you for reading the Daily Briefing this morning. —Keisha Rowe, The Courier-Journal, 12 July 2024

Sebastian Dorn, 16, of Detroit, joined Heroes' Alliance two years ago, after a representative from the group spoke to his freshman engineering class. —Eric Guzmán, Detroit Free Press, 11 July 2024

The two would not share a dugout at Syracuse until spring 2026, when Kenzie will be a freshman and Madison will be a senior. —Daniel Steenkamer, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing freshman

• freshman orientation
• pre-freshman

Kids Definition

freshman

noun

fresh·​man ˈfresh-mən 

1

: beginner, newcomer

2

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