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Synonyms

inexperience

American  
[in-ik-speer-ee-uhns] / ˌɪn ɪkˈspɪər i əns /

noun

  1. lack of experience.

  2. lack of knowledge, skill, or wisdom gained from experience.

inexperience British  
/ ˌɪnɪkˈspɪərɪəns /

noun

  1. lack of experience or of the knowledge and understanding derived from experience

"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

Other Word Forms

  • inexperienced adjective

Etymology

Origin of inexperience

From the Late Latin word inexperientia, dating back to 1590–1600. See in- 3, experience

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.

Her opponents say Takaichi’s comments reveal her inexperience and a measure of recklessness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

His inexperience, the squad getting depleted... now they find themselves on the path towards European places.

From BBC • Jan. 8, 2026

Compensating for his inexperience, he is surrounding himself with seasoned aides recruited from past mayoral administrations and former US president Joe Biden's government.

From Barron's • Jan. 1, 2026

St. John Bosco’s inexperience at quarterback and the absence of an elite running back also were exposed.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 23, 2025

By the second week of April that year, the fields were dry enough for plowing, and Jethro, full of the optimism of inexperience, harnessed his team and went out to the field alone.

From "Across Five Aprils" by Irene Hunt

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.