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Synonyms

rookie

American  
[rook-ee] / ˈrʊk i /

noun

  1. an athlete playing their first season as a member of a professional sports team.

    The rookie replaced the injured regular at first base.

  2. a raw recruit, as in the army or on a police force.

  3. a novice; tyro.

rookie British  
/ ˈrʊkɪ /

noun

  1. informal an inexperienced person or newcomer, esp a raw recruit in the army

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does Rookie of the Year mean? Rookie of the Year is an award given to an athlete judged most accomplished in the first season of their sport.

Etymology

Origin of rookie

1890–95; alteration of recruit; -y 2

Explanation

A rookie is someone who's new at something. The young football player who's just joined the NFL is a rookie, and if you just started your restaurant job yesterday, you're a rookie too. Police officers and members of the military also call recent recruits rookies. This word can also function as an adjective to describe something related to newbies — like a "rookie season" or a "rookie quarterback." The word's origin is a bit hazy, though it may come from the disparaging secondary meaning of rook, "a cheat," or more appropriately, "someone who's easily cheated."

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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.

She corrected my rookie mistakes, pointed me toward opportunities I didn’t know existed.

From Slate • Apr. 12, 2026

In an effort to promote the game of golf, many courses encourage new and rookie golfers onto the course.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams reportedly had to take a pay cut as a rookie after leaving the University of Southern California.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

Cherundolo won a Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup in his rookie season, made the MLS Cup and Champions League finals in his second year and won the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

“Unlike his Dodgers teammates, he hadn’t been slugging home runs all season. The rookie was still looking for his very first home run in the big leagues.”

From "A High Five for Glenn Burke" by Phil Bildner

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.