Neophyte is hardly a new addition to the English language (it's been part of the English vocabulary since the 1300s), but it wasn't in general use before the 19th century. When it was used in a 16th-century translation of the Bible, some folks derided it as pretentious and Latinate. One critic lumped it with other "ridiculous inkhorn terms" and another went as far as to write, "Neophyte, to a bare Englishman is nothing at all." The criticisms of "neophyte" weren't entirely justified, given the word's long history in English, but it is true that "neophyte" has classical roots. It traces back through Late Latin to the Greek neophytes, meaning "newly planted or "newly converted."
neophytes are assigned an experienced church member to guide them through their first year
Recent Examples on the WebThis first episode hits me, a neophyte, as competently executed apocalypse fiction.—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 16 Jan. 2023 The Texans’ most talented defensive players, edge rusher Will Anderson and cornerback Derek Stingley Jr., were also neophytes.—Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 16 Jan. 2024 The obscure neophyte was now tipped to be Johnson’s successor.—Dominic Green, Washington Examiner, 12 Jan. 2024 The loneliest feeling in the world must be somebody stumbling into The First Shadow as a total neophyte and wondering why everything seems to be an in-joke.—Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Dec. 2023 His replacement, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), is a neophyte at political leadership with a long history of hard-line social conservative stances that might not play well in the districts that will determine House control.—Cameron Joseph, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2023 Political neophyte Vivek Ramaswamy is also still in the running and is expected to be on the fourth debate stage in December, but his support has declined significantly after bursting on the scene in the first GOP debate.—Dave Goldiner New York Daily News (tns), arkansasonline.com, 26 Nov. 2023 Ramaswamy, the youngest candidate in the field and a political neophyte, has had fiery debate-night clashes with Haley, and there could be more Wednesday night.—CBS News, 4 Dec. 2023 Oher begins transforming from a football neophyte raised on the streets into an offensive lineman with the strength of Zeus, the nimbleness of Mikhail Baryshnikov and the size of an upright piano.—Kurt Streeter, New York Times, 17 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'neophyte.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English neophite, borrowed from Late Latin neophytus, borrowed from Greek neóphytos "newly planted" (in New Testament and patristic Greek, "newly converted, new convert"), from neo-neo- + -phytos, verbal adjective of phýein "to bring forth, produce" — more at be
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