freshman

[fresh-muhn]

noun

plural

freshmen 

1. a student in the first year of the course at a university, college, or high school.

2. a novice; beginner.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a freshman.

   to outgrow one's freshman attitudes.

2. lacking seniority or experience; junior.

   a freshman senator.

3. required of or suitable for freshmen.

   freshman courses.

4. initial; first.

   This is my freshman year with the company.

Gender Note

See -man.

Other Word Forms

• freshmanship noun
• prefreshman noun
• subfreshman noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of freshman¹

First recorded in 1540–50; fresh + -man

Example Sentences

Even as a true freshman, he led the Horned Frogs in receiving yards, but it wasn’t until his junior year that he attracted national praise.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Players who make a leap between their freshman and sophomore years are now often doing so on new teams.

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As a redshirt freshman on the scout team, he chased straight A’s in the classroom and applied early to Haas, which admits only about a dozen athletes in any given year.

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Jackson, the college freshman, recalled getting her first iPhone in middle school.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Sienna is an early candidate for Big Ten freshman of the year based on her dynamic skill set.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• novice 
• rookie 
• undergraduate