inexperienced

American

[in-ik-speer-ee-uhnst] / ˌɪn ɪkˈspɪər i ənst /

adjective

not experienced; lacking knowledge, skill, or wisdom gained from experience.

Synonyms:

naive, green, raw, unpracticed, inexpert, unskilled

Etymology

Origin of inexperienced

First recorded in 1620–30; inexperience + -ed ²

Vocabulary lists containing inexperienced

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

At one point late in 2021, all three of Buffalo’s goalies suffered injuries and the team had no choice but to rely on inexperienced minor leaguers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

Gloucester-Hartpury's Mia Venner and Loughborough Lightning's Bo Westcombe-Evans, both with two previous appearances for England, are other inexperienced wing options.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Baldy, the towering peak that looms over Southern California and has lured many inexperienced and under-equipped hikers to their deaths, will be closed for the next two weeks.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 10, 2026

Marsh said he had no concerns over what will be a fairly inexperienced pace attack also featuring Xavier Bartlett and Ben Dwarshuis, who was a last-minute replacement for Cummins.

From Barron's • Feb. 10, 2026

I was too young for Maxim, too inexperienced, and more important still, I was not of his world.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023