Beginner synonyms

rookie

(Sports) A first-year player, especially in a professional sport.

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neophyte

Neophyte is a beginner, a recent convert to something and not yet very familiar with it.

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amateur (related)

One lacking the skill of a professional, as in an art.

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novice

A person new to a particular occupation, activity, etc.; apprentice; beginner; tyro

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trainee

Someone who is still in the process of being formally trained in a workplace.

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greenhorn

(Chiefly US) an inexperienced person; a novice, beginner or newcomer

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tyro

A beginner; a novice. [from 17th c.]

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entrant

A person who enters, esp. one who enters a contest

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start (related)

An act of beginning; an initial effort:

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freshman

A beginner; a novice.

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tenderfoot

Any newcomer, novice, or beginner

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newcomer

One who has only recently arrived.

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recruit

The definition of a recruit is a new person who has joined something, especially the military.

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novitiate

The period of being a novice.

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boot

(Slang) A Navy or Marine recruit, esp. one in a training camp

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tiro

Tyro

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old hand (antonym)

(Idiomatic) A person who is experienced at a certain activity.

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debutante

A girl or woman, typically 16-18 years of age, making a debut, esp. into upper-class society

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abecedarian

One who teaches or studies the alphabet.

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fledgling

(Figuratively) An immature, naïve and/or inexperienced person.

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initiate

A person who has recently been, or is about to be, initiated

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intern

A person, esp. a student, participating in a program of temporary, supervised work in a particular field in order to gain practical experience

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catechumen

One who is being instructed in a subject at an elementary level.

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candidate

A participant in an examination.

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learner

One that is learning

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postulate

A prerequisite

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probationer

One who is on probation

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understudy

The definition of an understudy is an actor who learns the role of another actor and who performs when that actor is unable.

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expert (antonym)

An individual of recognized knowledge in a particular topic, typically confirmed by academic standing and publications, who is called upon by one of the parties to testify in court as to his or her opinion of the underlying facts. Also referred to as expert witness.

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