greenhorn

American  

[green-hawrn] / ˈgrinˌhɔrn /

noun

1. an untrained or inexperienced person.

2. a naive or gullible person; someone who is easily tricked or swindled.

3. Slang. a newly arrived immigrant; newcomer.

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greenhorn British  

/ ˈɡriːnˌhɔːn /

noun

1. an inexperienced person, esp one who is extremely gullible

2. a newcomer or immigrant

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Other Word Forms

• greenhornism noun

Etymology

Origin of greenhorn

1425–75; late Middle English; green, horn; originally applied to cattle with green (i.e., young) horns

Example Sentences

They include seasoned politicians, an activist, greenhorn or two and others.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 3, 2023

So to Ellis last August went a greenhorn trainer, Hamilton, then 28.

From Washington Post • Jun. 9, 2022

Wily bank robber Wesley Snipes taunts a familiar-looking rough-and-ready cop while greenhorn Ryan Phillippe delivers a TED talk on chaos theory in this listless would-be thriller.

From The Guardian • Jul. 25, 2019

But it didn't matter if you owned a green jacket or were a greenhorn journalist, Dan Jenkins had time for you.

From Golf Digest • Mar. 11, 2019

Fresh arrivals to the Valentine farm made it so Cora was no longer the greenhorn, bumbling about.

From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead