inexperienced

American

[in-ik-speer-ee-uhnst] / ˌɪn ɪkˈspɪər i ənst /

adjective

not experienced; lacking knowledge, skill, or wisdom gained from experience.

Synonyms:

naive, green, raw, unpracticed, inexpert, unskilled

Etymology

Origin of inexperienced

First recorded in 1620–30; inexperience + -ed ²

Vocabulary lists containing inexperienced

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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.

If you’ve ever had the misfortune of being assigned an inexperienced, overconfident boss, you know what happens next.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

Speaking after the sentencing, Lisa Rose, specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service special crime division, said Lloyd was not qualified to take inexperienced paddleboarders out in such conditions.

From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026

Meanwhile, companies are less willing than before to hire and invest in inexperienced workers, they said.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

Iron Honor, who joins Taj Mahal as the most inexperienced horses in the field with three starts each, won his first two races, including the Gotham at Aqueduct.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2026

“I knew they were very inexperienced, so I said, ‘Please be careful.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

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