neophyte

noun

neo·​phyte ˈnē-ə-ˌfīt 

1

: a new convert : proselyte

2

: novice sense 1

3

: tyro, beginner

a neophyte when it comes to computers

neophytes fresh from graduate schools of business

Did you know?

Neophyte is hardly a new addition to the English language—it's been part of the English vocabulary since the 14th century. It traces back through Late Latin to the Greek word neophytos, meaning "newly planted" or "newly converted." These Greek and Latin roots were directly transplanted into the early English uses of neophyte, which first referred to a person newly converted to a religion or cause. By the 1600s, neophyte had gained a more general sense of "a beginner or novice." Today you might consider it a formal elder sibling of such recent informal coinages as newbie and noob.

Synonyms

• convert
• proselyte

Examples of neophyte in a Sentence

neophytes are assigned an experienced church member to guide them through their first year

Recent Examples on the Web

Kraft is a political neophyte but could become a force in Boston politics for three reasons: his connections in the philanthropic world, his legitimate community ties — and the deep pockets of his family and friends. —Mike Deehan, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025

For years, ordinary investors who wanted to trade digital currencies generally had to go to a crypto exchange, a potential deal-breaker for neophytes. —Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024

And this also happens to be the day that the trauma center welcomes a new class of interns and residents, filling the ER with wide-eyed neophytes like Wyle’s John Carter was in the pilot for ER. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Jan. 2025

These neophytes to the Supply Base imagined many technological innovations that have either come to fruition (e.g., remote start) or have flirted with reality (e.g., autonomous driving, flying cars). —Steve Tengler, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English neophite, borrowed from Late Latin neophytus, borrowed from Greek neóphytos "newly planted" (in New Testament and patristic Greek, "newly converted, new convert"), from neo- neo- + -phytos, verbal adjective of phýein "to bring forth, produce" — more at be

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

neophyte

noun

neo·​phyte ˈnē-ə-ˌfīt 

1

: a person who has recently joined a religion

2

: beginner, novice