rookie

rook·ie | \ ˈru̇-kē

How to pronounce rookie (audio)

\

Definition of rookie

1 : recruit also : novice

2 : a first-year participant in a major professional sport

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about rookie

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of rookie in a Sentence

There are three rookies in the starting lineup. an experienced policeman whose partner is a rookie

Recent Examples on the Web General manager Dave Caldwell and coach Doug Marrone rolled with Gardner Minshew this season, taking a risk on a popular player who showed promise as a rookie. — Mark Long, orlandosentinel.com, "Jaguars travel to face quarterback they should have drafted," 19 Oct. 2020 Starting cornerback Desmond Trufant is out with a hamstring injury for the Lions, and rookie wide receiver Quintez Cephus, quarterback David Blough, linebacker Elijah Lee and offensive linemen Logan Stenberg and Kenny Wiggins are inactive. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, "Frank Ragnow active for Detroit Lions vs. Jacksonville Jaguars; Quintez Cephus out," 18 Oct. 2020 Porter, 20, averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists as a rookie. — Chris Fedor, cleveland, "Cleveland Cavaliers speak with Kevin Porter Jr. following cryptic Instagram post; Porter is ‘fine’," 16 Oct. 2020 Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is coming off his worst game as a rookie in Week 5. — Tyler Dragon, The Enquirer, "Week 6 three keys: How the Cincinnati Bengals can beat the Indianapolis Colts," 16 Oct. 2020 Near the end of the interview, Watson talks about Booker's 70-point game, but takes a journey back to when Booker played against Kobe Bryant the year before as a rookie. — Duane Rankin, The Arizona Republic, "How much credit should Earl Watson get for Devin Booker's NBA rise?," 14 Oct. 2020 Hill struggled to contribute as a rookie but has flourished under the new coaching staff. — David Moore, Dallas News, "Trysten Hill’s season-ending ACL tear is disappointing for one of the Cowboys' most improved defensive players," 13 Oct. 2020 And, finally, rookie wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk finished a touchdown run last Sunday by hurdling a defender at the 8-yard line and bounding into the end zone in one jaw-dropping motion. — Eric Branch, SFChronicle.com, "49ers look to have key offensive players together against Dolphins on Sunday," 10 Oct. 2020 The 5-10 winger plays for the Prince Albert Raiders and helped the team win the Western Hockey League championship in 2018-19 as a rookie. — Mike Brehm, USA TODAY, "Sharks' Doug Wilson Jr. uses sign language while drafting prospect with deaf parent," 7 Oct. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rookie.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about rookie

Dictionary Entries near rookie

Statistics for rookie

Last Updated

23 Oct 2020

Cite this Entry

“Rookie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rookie. Accessed 23 Oct. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

guttersnipe

Listen to the pronunciation of guttersnipe

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Namesakes Word Quiz

Which of the following is a fruit named after a Moroccan seaport?

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.