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Neophyte is hardly a new addition to the English language—it's been part of the English vocabulary since the 14th century. It traces back through Late Latin to the Greek word neophytos, meaning "newly planted" or "newly converted." These Greek and Latin roots were directly transplanted into the early English uses of neophyte, which first referred to a person newly converted to a religion or cause. By the 1600s, neophyte had gained a more general sense of "a beginner or novice." Today you might consider it a formal elder sibling of such recent informal coinages as newbie and noob.
Examples of neophyte in a Sentence
JSTOR Daily, 18 Oct. 2025
After penning and producing numerous songs for the likes of Ariana Grande, Post Malone and Drake as one half of The Rascals, Thomas has finally tasted success under his own name with his 2024 sophomore album, Mutt, a brilliant record that couldn’t have been made by a neophyte.
—Lori Majewski, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
Despite this packed schedule, the wine industry neophyte is enjoying her time of discovery, like on this recent visit to Manhattan.
—Elizabeth Wellington, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Aug. 2025
The political neophyte went from relative obscurity to becoming a boldface name by keeping it real throughout his campaign.
—Amie Parnes, The Hill, 22 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Neophyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neophyte. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
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neophyte
noun
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