freshman
freshman Lexical Profile
freshman Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A student in the first year of high school, college, or university.
"During orientation week, every incoming freshman was assigned a faculty advisor."
North American A beginner or novice in any field, activity, or organization, especially a legislator serving a first term in office.
"As a political freshman in Congress, he spent his first months learning legislative procedure."
• adjective
North American Relating to, characteristic of, or designating a first-year student or someone in their first year or term in an organization or role.
"The newly elected senator co-sponsored a major healthcare bill during her freshman term."
Word Nuance & Usage
While 'freshman' remains standard in American English for a first-year student of any gender, many universities and style guides increasingly favor the gender-neutral alternative 'first-year' or 'first-year student'.
• Rhymes for freshman
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the mid-16th century as a compound of 'fresh' (in the sense of 'new' or 'inexperienced') and 'man', originally used at English universities before becoming standard in North America.