novice

noun

nov·​ice ˈnä-vəs 

1

: a person admitted to probationary membership in a religious community

The novices spend part of each day in prayer and meditation.

2

: beginner, tyro

Did you know?

Among the ancient Romans, a novice (novicius) was usually a newly enslaved person, who had to be trained in his or her duties. Among Catholics and Buddhists, if you desire to become a priest, monk, or nun, you must serve as a novice for a period of time, often a year (called your novitiate), before being ordained or fully professing your vows. No matter what kind of novice you are—at computers, at writing, at politics, etc.—you've got a lot to learn.

Synonyms of novice

• beginner
• newcomer
• rookie
• apprentice
• freshman

Examples of novice in a Sentence

Novices serve time as scullery serfs as they work toward the privilege of trailing a pastry chef … —Guy Trebay, New York Times, 4 Sept. 2002

For the novice, walking the course also means being scared senseless by all the possibilities to screw up. —Tim Keown, ESPN, 17 Sept. 2001

Yet it's obvious to him and everyone else who the novice is here, the book-learned tournament virgin. —James McManus, Harper's, December 2000

Much defter than one would have thought possible from the length of her fingernails, Toula had no fear of high fast notes; her flair, mounted between Andrea's perfectionist reserve and Alice's novice awkwardness, seemed all too displayed. —John Updike, The Afterlife, 1994

He's a novice in cooking.

a book for the novice chess player

Recent Examples on the Web

Studies of customer service representatives using AI assistance found that novices gained most from AI coaching suggestions, but critically, those learning effects transferred beyond specific situations. — Byjonathan H. Westover, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026

In the novice division, Bart Shreve won first place after capturing nine pythons. — Sonia Osorio, Miami Herald, 6 Aug. 2026

The best rock tumbler for beginners is one that comes as a complete kit, including the rocks, so the novice has the best chance of being successful on the first try. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

While El-Sayed was ahead in many polls over Stevens, including a recent survey conducted by Emerson College, the Democratic novice is trailing in some polling against Rogers, which the GOP nominee sees as advantageous. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, "probationer in a religious community" (continental Old French also, "inexperienced person"), borrowed from Late Latin novīcius, going back to Latin, "newly enslaved person, person recently entered into a condition," as adjective, "newly imported, recently discovered, fashionable," from novus "new" + -īcius -itious — more at new entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

novice

noun

nov·​ice ˈnäv-əs 

1

: a new member of a religious order who is preparing to take the vows of religion

2

: a person who has no previous experience with something