freshman

plural freshmen

1. CanadaPhilippinesUSa person (of either sex) entering the first year of an institution, especially a high school (ninth grade for US, grade 9 for Canada, grade 7 for Philippines), a university, or legislative body

   At the time I was a wide-eyed freshman, but I was soon to grow jaded and cynical.

   4 more examples

   When he was but yet a freshman in Cambridge.

   1596, Thomas Nashe, Have with You to Saffron-Walden

   Sir Alexander: Then he's a graduate. Sir Davy: Say they trust him not? Sir Alexander: Then is he held a freshman and a sot,¶ And never shall commence, but being still barr'd¶ Be expuls'd from the master's side to th' twopenny ward,¶ Or else i' th' hole be plac'd.

   1611, Thomas Middleton, The Roaring Girl, act 3, scene 3

   As a country, we now enter what the seven freshmen called “unchartered waters”, with an unprecedented political and constitutional crisis looming on the horizon.

   2019 September 25, Geoffrey Kabaservice, “Impeach Trump? The United States is now in uncharted waters”, in The Guardian

   Trump may have played a role in swaying some holdouts — calling into a meeting of Republican freshmen the night before, and calling other members ahead of voting.

   January 7 2023, Lisa Mascaro, Farnoush Amiri, “McCarthy elected House speaker in rowdy post-midnight vote”, in AP News

   Synonyms: first-year student, first year student, 1st year student, 1st yr student

2. obsoletea novice; one in the rudiments of knowledge

   I am but a Freshman yet in France, therefore I can send you no News but that all is here quiet, and 'tis no ordinary News that the French should be quiet.

   1619 August 6, James Howell, The Familiar Letters of James Howell, volume 1, published 1892, Letter XIII, page 39