freshman
Americannoun
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.
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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
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."
Vocabulary lists containing freshman
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.
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
USC freshman Tucker Collins attended a “No Kings” protest in L.A.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Deas started 32 games as a true freshman, was second on the team in scoring and was only one of two players averaging double-figure scoring.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026
Orange Lutheran’s Rylee Silva, who had 135 strikeouts as a freshman last spring, struck out five Cougars.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 5, 2026
He was a freshman now at Columbia High School, the same school I would be attending the following year.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
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.
