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noun Uncommon

novice

NO-vihs

Novice (noun) means someone who is new to an activity or skill and still learning the basics. Example: “As a novice skier, she stuck to the easier slopes.”

noun
1
Someone who is new to an activity or skill and still learning the basics.
"As a novice skier, she stuck to the easier slopes."
"The course is designed for complete novices with no coding experience."

How to use novice

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA beginner who hasn't built up much skill or experience yet.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
complete novice a novice at novice driver

Word forms

more novice comparative, novices plural, most novice superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

As a _____ skier, she stuck to the easier slopes.

Etymology

From Latin novicius, "newly arrived," from novus, "new" — also used historically for someone newly entered into a religious order.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for novice

See all rhymes for novice →

Frequently asked questions

What does “novice” mean?

The word “novice” means someone who is new to an activity or skill and still learning the basics. In plain terms, a beginner who hasn't built up much skill or experience yet.

How do you pronounce “novice”?

“Novice” is pronounced NO-vihs (/ˈnɑvɪs/ in IPA).

How do you use “novice” in a sentence?

Here is “novice” used in a sentence: “As a novice skier, she stuck to the easier slopes.”

What part of speech is “novice”?

“Novice” is a noun.

Where does the word “novice” come from?

The word “novice” comes from Latin. From Latin novicius, "newly arrived," from novus, "new" — also used historically for someone newly entered into a religious order.

Is “novice” a common word?

“Novice” is an uncommon word in modern English.

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