sophomore

1 of 2

noun

soph·​o·​more ˈsäf-ˌmȯr 

also ˈsȯf-

or ˈsä-fə-

or ˈsȯ-fə-

: a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school

sophomore

2 of 2

adjective

: being or associated with the second in a series

their sophomore album

Examples of sophomore in a Sentence

Noun

She's a sophomore in high school.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Madsen will take the reins back from redshirt sophomore Max Cutforth, who threw for 790 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions over his nearly four full games of action, winning twice and losing twice. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 Dec. 2025

Plus, freshman guard Olivia Owens and sophomore forwards Helen Holley and Eva Ruse and guards Lilly Amor and Dresha Moore all had their moments Wednesday. —Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Fiore has been at Cathedral for the last seven years and in her sophomore English class, all 125 of her students do a TED talk during the year. —Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

And there’s also sophomore Holloway, who scored 26 points in Alabama’s last outing before conference play began and added 10 points on Saturday. —Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

earlier sophy mor, soph-mor, probably from sophom, sophem, sophyme (early Modern English variants of sophism) + -or entry 1; later reanalyzed as Greek sophós "clever, wise" + -o- + mōrós "foolish, stupid"

First Known Use

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1953, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sophomore

• albacore
• alongshore
• antiwar
• anymore
• blastopore
• carnivore
• commodore
• dinosaur
• evermore
• furthermore
• guarantor
• herbivore

Kids Definition

sophomore

noun

soph·​o·​more

ˈsäf-ˌmō(ə)r, 

-ˌmȯ(ə)r;

ˈsäf-ᵊm-ˌō(ə)r, 

-ˌȯ(ə)r

: a student in his or her second year at a 4-year high school or college