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beginner

American  
[bih-gin-er] / bɪˈgɪn ər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that begins.

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

    swimming for beginners.

  3. a person who is inexperienced; novice.

beginner British  
/ bɪˈɡɪnə /

noun

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

"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

Etymology

Origin of beginner

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

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.

Featuring an intuitive “one-click” interface consistent across all devices, it is ideal for both beginners and frequent travelers.

From Salon

“I was in beginner band, sixth grade, playing for a crowd of legendary grandparents. I sounded horrible. They gave me pity claps.”

From Literature

Their experience ranged from beginners to specialists with up to 40 years in practice.

From Science Daily

“For younger or beginner investors, having parental visibility or approval can be helpful in guiding decision making and reinforcing good habits,” Tobin said.

From MarketWatch

“For younger or beginner investors, having parental visibility or approval can be helpful in guiding decision-making and reinforcing good habits,” Tobin said.

From MarketWatch

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.