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

And how much of a team’s ranking is based on program history versus the number of returning starters — or perhaps the impact of portal recruits and/or true freshmen? — Mike Griffith, AJC.com, 22 Aug. 2026

Heintz, a recent graduate of Peters Township High School, was a freshman at PennWest California. — Michael Guise, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

As Sportico detailed, the prospect of freshmen and others losing roster spots to former athletes returning to campus could have led those freshmen to file their own lawsuits. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 21 Aug. 2026

After moving out, everything went into storage, but Nunez’s decorating ambitions didn’t end with freshman year. — Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 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)