Synonyms

freshman

American

[fresh-muhn] / ˈfrɛʃ mən /

noun

plural

freshmen

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

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a freshman.

to outgrow one's freshman attitudes.
lacking seniority or experience; junior.

a freshman senator.
required of or suitable for freshmen.

freshman courses.
initial; first.

This is my freshman year with the company.

Gender

See -man.

Other Word Forms

freshmanship noun
prefreshman noun
subfreshman noun

Etymology

Origin of freshman

First recorded in 1540–50; fresh + -man

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."

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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.

Chloey Cho, a 19-year-old wrapping up her freshman year at the University of California, Los Angeles, has already completed four internships alongside her studies, two in finance and two in marketing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

Chesney was pleased with the progress of sophomore tight end Noah Fox-Flores, who had a four-yard touchdown reception against Nevada Las Vegas last season as a freshman.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Julian Bravo will be a freshman left-handed pitcher and wants No. 32.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Giovani Hodgson, a senior at the University of Kentucky, said internships from his freshman year on helped him secure a spot in Ernst & Young’s supply-chain and operations division once he graduates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

But he’d been building this abstract new life for them since Luke took state their freshman year.

From "We'll Fly Away" by Bryan Bliss

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