noun
Common
rookie
RUU-kee
Rookie (noun) means someone new to a job, sport, or team; a first-year professional or a novice. Example: “The club signed a young rookie who had never played professionally before.”
noun
1
Someone new to a job, sport, or team; a first-year professional or a novice.
"The club signed a young rookie who had never played professionally before."
"The rookie quarterback threw three touchdowns in his first start."
"As a rookie officer, she was paired with an experienced partner."
adj
1
Inexperienced or new to a role.
"He was a rookie driver, so he stayed carefully in the slow lane."
"The rookie waiter dropped a tray on his very first shift."
"It was a rookie mistake to forget the safety check."
How to use rookie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone in their first year at a job or sport, still learning the ropes.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
rookie mistake
rookie season
rookie of the year
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Word forms
- Plural
- rookies
- Third person singular
- rookies
- Past tense
- rookied
- Comparative
- rookier
- Superlative
- rookiest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The club signed a young _____ who had never played professionally before.
Etymology
Likely an alteration of "recruit," possibly influenced by "rook" in the sense of an easy target for a con.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for rookie
See all rhymes for rookie →Frequently asked questions
What does “rookie” mean?
The word “rookie” means someone new to a job, sport, or team; a first-year professional or a novice. In plain terms, someone in their first year at a job or sport, still learning the ropes.
How do you pronounce “rookie”?
“Rookie” is pronounced RUU-kee (/ˈɹʊki/ in IPA).
How do you use “rookie” in a sentence?
Here is “rookie” used in a sentence: “The rookie quarterback threw three touchdowns in his first start.”
What is another word for “rookie”?
Words with a similar meaning to “rookie” include beginner, newbie, noob, tyro and novice.
What part of speech is “rookie”?
Depending on how it is used, “rookie” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “rookie” a common word?
“Rookie” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “rookie” have?
“Rookie” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone new to a job, sport, or team; a first-year professional or a novice.
What is the difference between a rookie and a veteran?
A rookie is someone new to a job, sport, or team, typically a first-year professional. A veteran is an experienced member who has spent years in the role, so the two words mark opposite ends of experience.
Is rookie formal or informal?
Rookie is informal and conversational, common in sports, policing, and everyday speech. In formal writing, words like novice, beginner, or new recruit are usually preferred.
What is the difference between a rookie and an amateur?
A rookie is a first-year or newly arrived professional who is inexperienced but paid to do the job. An amateur does something for enjoyment rather than as a paid career, so a rookie is still a professional while an amateur is not.
