freshman
Americannoun
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freshmen
plural
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a student in the first year of the course at a university, college, or high school.
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a novice; beginner.
adjective
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of, relating to, or characteristic of a freshman.
to outgrow one's freshman attitudes.
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lacking seniority or experience; junior.
a freshman senator.
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required of or suitable for freshmen.
freshman courses.
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initial; first.
This is my freshman year with the company.
Gender
See -man.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of freshman
Explanation
A freshman is a student in her first year of high school or college. Being a college freshman can be a little overwhelming — it's a huge change in most people's lives. Sometimes a freshman is called a "first-year student," a term that isn't so gender-specific. However, you can also use the word freshman for a a boy or a girl. Sometimes, rather than school, a freshman is new at something else: in the US Senate, first-timers are frequently called "freshman senators." The word combines the "inexperienced" sense of fresh with man, or "person."
Vocabulary lists containing freshman
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.
See Examples For:
While he bided his time on the depth chart during his freshman and sophomore seasons, quarterbacks around the country switched teams in pursuit of more money and better opportunities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
But she was careful not to present as an interloper in her freshman year, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026
Bel, who graduated from Springfield High in May, had been fitted with an ankle monitor just before his freshman year of college.
From Slate ● Oct. 26, 2026
No freshman in the Ivy League is having a better football season than Coleman, who in five games for Columbia has caught 35 passes for 453 yards and eight touchdowns.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
“Don’t mention that while Boss is around. She’s obsessed with him. Has been since freshman year, since she started getting weird. Never came out and said it, but you can tell.”
From "Made You Up" by Francesca Zappia
Many freshmen specifically seek out colleges and universities with robust Greek-life programs, and participation is on the rise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Some of the freshmen, or first-year students, who spoke to the BBC had only arrived at Cornell last month.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
USC still has standout freshmen Kayden Dixon-Wyatt and tight end Mark Bowman to pace the passing attack.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2026
Was this somehow linked to Michigan’s recent decision to drop first-semester grades for its incoming freshmen?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
The freshmen around me probably thought I was a new kid or something.
From "Winger" by Andrew Smith
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
