newbie

noun

new·​bie ˈnü-bē 

ˈnyü-

informal

: a person who has recently started a particular activity : beginner, novice, newcomer

It's true that some users–particularly newbies—fall into the Web like Alice down the rabbit hole.

—Scott Kirsner

What will happen when all those newbie politicians sit down in the swivel chair for the first time?

—Geoff Clark

Synonyms

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

Examples of newbie in a Sentence

He is a newbie to local politics.

a newbie to woodworking, he was still trying to learn all the terms and techniques of the craft

Recent Examples on the Web

The Fan is flush with new barbecue after two newbies, Bar-Q and Brickwood Barbecue, opened in recent weeks just a few blocks apart. —Karri Peifer, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024

The newbie on the scene is do-gooding Cardinal Benitez (newcomer Carlos Diehz), who the pope appointed in Kabul. —Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024

As a newbie to Ligue 1 management, the then 30-year-old guided the side to 19 games unbeaten in 2022/23 while being the youngest coach in Europe’s top divisions. —Henry Flynn, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024

O'Brien is skirting that by running now, as a newbie. —Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 7 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

irregular from new

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

newbie

noun

new·​bie ˈn(y)ü-bē 

informal

: a newcomer especially to cyberspace