cub

noun

ˈkəb 

1

a

: a young carnivorous mammal (such as a bear, fox, or lion)

b

: a young shark

2

: a young person

3

: apprentice

especially : an inexperienced newspaper reporter

Synonyms

• abecedarian
• apprentice
• babe
• beginner
• colt
• fledgling
• freshman
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• newbie
• newcomer
• novice
• novitiate
• punk
• recruit
• rook
• rookie
• tenderfoot
• tyro
• virgin

Examples of cub in a Sentence

the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world

assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball

Recent Examples on the Web

Left unchecked, this badger cub would almost certainly have died. —John W. Dean, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Apr. 2025

Miraculously, the cub didn’t need surgery, The Orange County Register reported. —Brooke Baitinger, Sacbee.com, 7 Apr. 2025

In 2015, Florida allowed all hunting methods except trapping, prohibited hunting cubs or females with cubs and had unlimited permit sales, per the FWC. —Martin Vassolo, Axios, 1 Apr. 2025

The cub is estimated to be about 6 to 8 months old, Khaosod English, a news outlet based in Thailand, reported. —Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably akin to Middle English cobbe leader of a group, head — more at cob

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cub

• cub reporter

Rhymes for cub

• bub
• club
• dub
• grub
• hub
• nub
• pub
• rub
• scrub
• shrub
• snub
• stub

Kids Definition

cub

noun

ˈkəb 

1

a

: a young flesh-eating mammal (as a bear, fox, or lion)

b

: a young shark

2

: a young person

3

: a person just learning a job : apprentice

a cub reporter

a cub pilot

4

: cub scout