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 notesIn 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
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like novice.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- novices
- Comparative
- more novice
- Superlative
- most novice
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include novice:
