debutant

American  

[deb-yoo-tahnt, -yuh-] / ˈdɛb jʊˌtɑnt, -jə- /

Or débutant

noun

1. a person who makes a debut into a professional career or before the public.

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debutant British  

/ ˈdɛbjʊˌtɑːnt, -ˌtænt /

noun

1. a person who is making a first appearance in a particular capacity, such as a sportsperson playing in a first game for a team

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Etymology

Origin of debutant

1815–25; < French débutant, present participle of débuter. See debut, -ant

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

debutant

Playing in the short-lived Champions League Twenty20 in 2009, Somerset debutant Buttler, who had recently turned 19, emerged at number nine against New South Wales.

From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026

It is the first debutant to go unbeaten in the group stage since Senegal in 2002.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026

That creates a rare opportunity for tournament debutant Cape Verde, the second-smallest country to qualify for a World Cup.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 21, 2026

Jamie Smith will miss England's second Test against New Zealand following the birth of his daughter, with James Rew coming into the side as a third debutant.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

Our friends and loved ones were used to attending debutant balls, but since I didn’t have one the year before, this party was like my make-up quinceañera.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall