beginner

American  

[bih-gin-er] / bɪˈgɪn ər /

noun

beginners plural

1. a person or thing that begins.

2. a person who has begun a course of instruction or is learning the fundamentals.

   swimming for beginners.

3. a person who is inexperienced; novice.

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beginner British  

/ bɪˈɡɪnə /

noun

1. a person who has just started to do or learn something; novice

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• beginners
  plural

Etymology

Origin of beginner

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400; see origin at begin, -er ¹

Explanation

A beginner is someone who's brand new at something. In swimming lessons, a beginner practices putting her face in the water and blowing bubbles. If you're a beginner, you're a novice or an amateur — in other words, you're still learning. When you're learning to drive, you're a beginner and probably need the help of an instructor while you drive carefully around your neighborhood. A beginner at speaking French might be able to say a few phrases and know some basic vocabulary words. The earliest meaning of beginner, from the 14th century, was "founder," or "person who establishes an institution."

Related Words

• learner
• neophyte
• newcomer
• novice