greenhorn
noun
green·horn
ˈgrēn-ˌhȯrn 
1
: an inexperienced or naive person
2
: a newcomer (as to a country) unacquainted with local manners and customs
Examples of greenhorn in a Sentence
He's not the most sophisticated businessman you'll ever meet, but he's no greenhorn.
go easy on him—he's just a greenhorn and doesn't have all the experience you do
Recent Examples on the Web
Finally, and very importantly for the greenhorns among us: What’s your tip for getting rid of soreness after a ride?
—
Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.
—John Archibald, Southern Living, 25 May 2025
The indestructible Gill, still strolling the fairways of the magazine, was more than welcoming to a greenhorn.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The author came to Canada from England in 1923 as a 23-year-old greenhorn.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for greenhorn
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Samantha Dunn, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Flecks of mica and pyrite and who knows what, but only fools and greenhorns mistake it for gold.
—John Archibald, Southern Living, 25 May 2025
The indestructible Gill, still strolling the fairways of the magazine, was more than welcoming to a greenhorn.
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The author came to Canada from England in 1923 as a 23-year-old greenhorn.
—Anton Money, Outdoor Life, 15 Aug. 2024
See All Example Sentences for greenhorn
Cite this Entry
“Greenhorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greenhorn. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
greenhorn
noun
green·horn
-ˌhȯrn
: an inexperienced person
especially
: one easily tricked or cheated
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