A novice is someone who has been doing a job or other activity for only a short time and so is not experienced at it.
I'm a novice at these things, Lieutenant. You're the professional. [+ at]
As a novice writer, this is something I'm interested in.
Synonyms: beginner, pupil, amateur, newcomer More Synonyms of novice
2. countable noun
In a monastery or convent, a novice is a person who is preparing to become a monk or nun.
More Synonyms of novice
novice in British English
(ˈnɒvɪs)
noun
1.
a.
a person who is new to or inexperienced in a certain task, situation, etc; beginner; tyro
b.
(as modifier)
novice driver
2.
a probationer in a religious order
3.
a sportsman or sportswoman, esp an oarsman or oarswoman, who has not won a recognized prize, performed to an established level, etc
4.
a racehorse, esp a steeplechaser or hurdler, that has not won a specified number of races
Word origin
C14: via Old French from Latin novīcius, from novus new
novice in American English
(ˈnɑvɪs)
noun
1.
a person on probation in a religious group or order before taking vows; neophyte
2.
a person new to a particular occupation, activity, etc.; apprentice; beginner; tyro
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈamateur
Word origin
ME novis < OFr novice < L novicius, new, fresh < novus, new
Examples of 'novice' in a sentence
novice
His next race will be in a novice chase.
The Sun (2016)
He is due to make his novice chase debut next month.
The Sun (2016)
He was one of the top staying novice chasers last season.
The Sun (2016)
Stepping up in distance over hurdles is sure to help and he could be a star novice hurdler.
The Sun (2016)
He would actually be on only 158 for three novice chase wins.
The Sun (2016)
After just three effortless wins in novice chases Thistlecrack's jumping faced its biggest test.
The Sun (2016)
He was a useful novice hurdler before missing nearly two years through injury.
The Sun (2012)
Can our writers go from novice to master?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Voters do think it is time for a novice.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Something had to be done about novice chases.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is no time for a novice.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He stays well and he jumped brilliantly in his first two races as a novice chaser.
The Sun (2014)
He has representatives in the novice chases on all three days and offers no negatives.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He won three times as a novice last term and the soft ground will suit him well.
The Sun (2015)
He is probably the best staying novice chaser around.
The Sun (2014)
He won three times as a novice last season and he still looks well weighted.
The Sun (2015)
He has an especially strong hand of novice chasers.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He was a smart novice hurdler a couple of years ago but took a while to get the hang of fences.
The Sun (2009)
Research supports restrictions on novice drivers.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He was a promising novice hurdler last season and jumped superbly when storming home at Carlisle on his chase debut.
The Sun (2009)
By their very nature, novice chases are invariably hair-raising affairs.
Tibballs, Geoff Great Sporting Failures (1993)
This horse was as good a novice hurdler as I have seen in a long time and we hope he can go to the top over fences.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I hope we'll see the best of him this winter and he's certainly the most exciting novice hurdler available to me.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Gear car did have a big cross on a bright yellow background stuck to the back, an internationally recognised sign that there's a novice driver on board.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
novice
British English: novice NOUN
A novice is someone who has been doing a job or other activity for only a short time and so is not experienced at it.
I'm a novice at these things, sir. You're the professional.
American English: novice
Brazilian Portuguese: novato
Chinese: 新手
European Spanish: principiante
French: novice
German: Neuling
Italian: novizio
Japanese: 初心者
Korean: 초심자
European Portuguese: novato
Latin American Spanish: principiante
Chinese translation of 'novice'
novice
(ˈnɔvɪs)
n(c)
(= beginner) 新手 (xīnshǒu) (个(個), gè)
(Rel)
(female) 见(見)习(習)修女 (jiànxí xiūnǚ) (名, míng)
(male) 见(見)习(習)修士 (jiànxí xiūshì) (名, míng)
to be a novice at sth对(對)某物不熟悉 (duì mǒuwù bù shúxī)
1 (noun)
Definition
a beginner
I'm a novice at these things. You're the professional.
Synonyms
beginner
I am a complete beginner to bird-keeping.
pupil
Goldschmidt became a pupil of the composer Franz Schreker.
amateur
newcomer
The candidates are all relative newcomers to politics.
trainee
apprentice
I started off as an apprentice and worked my way up.
learner
a new aid for younger children or slow learners
neophyte (formal)
The book is a wonderfully stimulating read for both neophytes and wine buffs.
tyro
a tyro journalist
probationer
I was a young policeman - a probationer with a training officer.
newbie (slang)
proselyte
Opposites
teacher
,
professional
,
expert
,
master
,
ace
,
guru
,
boffin (British, informal)
,
old hand
,
grandmaster
,
wonk (informal)
,
maven
,
fundi (South Africa)
,
doyen or (fem.) doyenne
2 (noun)
Definition
a person who has entered a religious order but has not yet taken vows
She had entered the monastery as a novice many months previously.
Synonyms
novitiate
Claudio's sister, Isabella, is a novitiate in a convent.
convert
Additional synonyms
in the sense of apprentice
Definition
someone who works for a skilled person for a fixed period in order to learn his or her trade
I started off as an apprentice and worked my way up.
Synonyms
trainee,
student,
pupil,
novice,
beginner,
learner,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
probationer
in the sense of learner
a new aid for younger children or slow learners
Synonyms
student,
pupil,
scholar,
novice,
beginner,
trainee,
apprentice,
disciple,
neophyte (formal),
tyro
in the sense of neophyte
Definition
a beginner
The book is a wonderfully stimulating read for both neophytes and wine buffs.
Synonyms
novice,
student,
pupil,
recruit,
amateur,
beginner,
trainee,
apprentice,
disciple,
learner,
tyro,
probationer,
novitiate,
proselyte,
catechumen
Synonyms of 'novice'
novice
Explore 'novice' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of newcomer
Definition
a recent arrival or participant
The candidates are all relative newcomers to politics.
Synonyms
beginner,
stranger,
outsider,
novice,
new arrival,
parvenu,
newbie (slang),
Johnny-come-lately (informal),
noob (derogatory, slang)
in the sense of probationer
Definition
a person on a trial period in a job
I was a young policeman - a probationer with a training officer.
Synonyms
trainee,
novice,
beginner,
apprentice,
rookie (informal),
learner,
new recruit,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
greenhorn (informal)
in the sense of proselyte
Definition
a recent convert
Synonyms
convert,
novice,
initiate,
neophyte (formal),
tyro,
new believer,
catechumen
in the sense of pupil
Goldschmidt became a pupil of the composer Franz Schreker.