rookie

noun

rook·​ie ˈru̇-kē 

1

: recruit

also : novice

2

: a first-year participant in a major professional sport

Synonyms of rookie

• novice
• beginner
• freshman
• newcomer
• apprentice

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

Mazzulla emptied his bench with four minutes remaining, sending in rookie John Tonje for his NBA debut and veteran Dalano Banton for his first minutes as a Celtic this season. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026

After that, franchises would pay for housing for players on minimum salary contracts, rookies in their first season and the two developmental players teams would be allowed to have. —Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 24 Feb. 2026

Young has legitimately rebounded from a brutal rookie year and a whirlwind 2024 season that saw him get benched for roughly a third of the campaign. —Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026

For Dallas, rookie phenom Cooper Flagg will sit again with a foot injury, marking his fourth straight absence, while Daniel Gafford is listed as questionable. —C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of recruit

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for rookie

• bookie
• cookie

Kids Definition

rookie

noun

rook·​ie ˈru̇k-ē 

: beginner, recruit

especially : a first-year player in a professional sport