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

Seleste Massey, junior G/F Massey, the 2025 Class 6A Division II state championship MVP, averaged 14 points, 6 rebound, 3 assists and 5 steals as a sophomore. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Jan. 2026

Coach Manny Galvez relies on junior Austin Nickels and sophomore Isaac Zapata to provide the offense, with Nickels having 11 goals and Zapata 10. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026

Adjective

The first time Patrick Thaw saw his University of Michigan friends together since sophomore year ended was bittersweet. —Makiya Seminera, Fortune, 26 Jan. 2026

Two talented returning players for Village Christian are sophomore 6-foot-3 center Jolie Ambartsumyan and junior guard Sophia Santos. —Jack Gillespie, Daily News, 20 Nov. 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