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

Two Hyde Park Academy students, including an 18-year-old Lania Smith and a 15-year-old freshman Violet Harris, were killed in two separate hit-and-run accidents, and now a 16-year-old is dead after a shooting just a block from the school. —Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026

The trio partially fills a void created by the departures of junior shooting guard Isaiah Watts, freshman power forward Aleks Alston, freshman small forward Jaziah Harper and freshman shooting guard Nick Blake. —Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, 15 Apr. 2026

Aberdeen appeared in 12 games and logged just 41 minutes as a true freshman in 2022-23, making a case to be granted a fifth season. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Apr. 2026

Vaaks, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Estonia, was named to the Big East’s all-freshman team this past season. —Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 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)