freshman

noun

fresh·​man ˈfresh-mən How to pronounce freshman (audio)
Synonyms of freshmannext
often attributive
1
: a student in the first year of high school or college
2
: beginner, newcomer
especially : a person who is starting a job or activity
freshman lawmakers

Synonyms of freshman

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Examples of freshman in a Sentence

My daughter's a freshman at UCLA. He was the best freshman in professional basketball this year.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Sophomore guard/forward Dame Sarr added 15, junior center Patrick Ngongba had 13 points and seven rebounds, and sophomore guard/forward Sebastian Wilkins and freshman center Joaquim Boumtje Boumtje each scored 11. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2026 Turner was the Panthers’ top running back last season, gaining 745 yards with seven touchdowns on 140 carries as a freshman. — Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 Like most true freshmen, Wayne saw sparse playing time at James Madison, appearing in eight games as a running back and seeing snaps on special teams. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Franco Geldart, a 20-year-old sophomore at Northeastern University, joined a cooking club his freshman year. — Gili Malinsky, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for freshman

Word History

First Known Use

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of freshman was in 1557

Phrases Containing freshman

Rhymes for freshman

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Browse Nearby Words

freshly
freshman
freshman composition
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Cite this Entry

“Freshman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freshman. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

freshman

noun
fresh·​man ˈfresh-mən How to pronounce freshman (audio)
1
: beginner, newcomer
2
: a student in the first year (as of high school or college)
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