noun
greenhorn
GREEN-hawrn
Greenhorn (noun) means a person who is new to a job, activity, or situation and lacks experience. Example: “As a greenhorn on the ranch, he had a lot to learn about handling cattle.”
noun
1
A person who is new to a job, activity, or situation and lacks experience.
"As a greenhorn on the ranch, he had a lot to learn about handling cattle."
"The veteran cops teased the greenhorn about his first day nerves."
How to use greenhorn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone new and inexperienced at something, especially a job.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a real greenhorn
greenhorn mistake
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Word forms
- Plural
- greenhorns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
As a _____ on the ranch, he had a lot to learn about handling cattle.
Etymology
From Middle English grene horn, originally referring to the fresh horn of a recently killed young animal — "green" here means young or fresh, not the colour.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “greenhorn” mean?
The word “greenhorn” means a person who is new to a job, activity, or situation and lacks experience. In plain terms, someone new and inexperienced at something, especially a job.
How do you pronounce “greenhorn”?
“Greenhorn” is pronounced GREEN-hawrn (/ˈɡɹinˌhoɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “greenhorn” in a sentence?
Here is “greenhorn” used in a sentence: “As a greenhorn on the ranch, he had a lot to learn about handling cattle.”
What part of speech is “greenhorn”?
“Greenhorn” is a noun.
Where does the word “greenhorn” come from?
The word “greenhorn” comes from Middle English. From Middle English grene horn, originally referring to the fresh horn of a recently killed young animal — "green" here means young or fresh, not the colour.
