FRESHMAN

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does freshman mean? 

• FRESHMAN (noun)
  The noun FRESHMAN has 2 senses:

1. a first-year undergraduate

2. any new participant in some activity

  Familiarity information: FRESHMAN used as a noun is rare.

• FRESHMAN (adjective)
  The adjective FRESHMAN has 1 sense:

1. used of a person in the first year of an experience (especially in United States high school or college)

  Familiarity information: FRESHMAN used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRESHMAN (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A first-year undergraduate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

fresher; freshman

Hypernyms ("freshman" is a kind of...):

lowerclassman; underclassman (an undergraduate who is not yet a senior)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Any new participant in some activity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

entrant; fledgeling; fledgling; freshman; neophyte; newbie; newcomer; starter

Hypernyms ("freshman" is a kind of...):

beginner; initiate; novice; tiro; tyro (someone new to a field or activity)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "freshman"):

enlistee; recruit (any new member or supporter (as in the armed forces))

• FRESHMAN (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used of a person in the first year of an experience (especially in United States high school or college)

Synonyms:

first-year; freshman

Context example:

freshman year in high school or college

Similar:

first (preceding all others in time or space or degree)

Domain region:

America; the States; U.S.; U.S.A.; United States; United States of America; US; USA (North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776)

 Context examples 

Ned, being in college, of course put on all the airs which freshmen think it their bounden duty to assume.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)