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Synonyms

Johnny-come-lately

American  
[jon-ee-kuhm-leyt-lee] / ˈdʒɒn iˌkʌmˈleɪt li /
Or Johnnie-come-lately

noun

plural

Johnny-come-latelies, Johnnies-come-lately

  1. a late arrival or participant; newcomer.

    the Johnny-come-latelies producing space-war films after the trend had ended.
Johnny-come-lately British  

noun

  1. a brash newcomer, novice, or recruit

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Johnny-come-lately Idioms  

  1. A newcomer, as in She may be a Johnny-come-lately on the board, but she's doing a fine job with publicity. [1830s]

Etymology

Origin of Johnny-come-lately

First recorded in 1825–35; from the proper name Johnny

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.

Given he’s been a megawatt star for more than half a century, it’s odd to think that Rod Stewart has opinions on anything as Johnny-come-lately as the Department of Government Efficiency.

From Salon • Jun. 29, 2025

“King salmon is a Johnny-come-lately that came into this race only after king crab left—died.”

From Slate • Sep. 18, 2022

In activewear — among the few strong-performing categories in the anemic apparel sector — J. Crew would appear to be a Johnny-come-lately.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 11, 2016

As for the company’s becoming a sponsor “this year,” the implication is that it’s a Johnny-come-lately trying to improve its image after a rough patch.

From New York Times • Apr. 30, 2012

George Sea Otter informed me that you've been having trouble with this Johnny-come-lately, Colonel Pennington.

From The Valley of the Giants by Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.