sophomore
SOF-uh-maw
Sophomore (noun) means a student in their second year of high school or university. Example: “As a sophomore, she finally got to choose her own electives.”
noun
1
A student in their second year of high school or university.
"She was very mature for a sophomore and had several friends who were juniors or even seniors."
"As a sophomore, she finally got to choose her own electives."
"My cousin is a sophomore at university and studies biology."
"The sophomore year is often when students choose their main subject."
adj
1
Describing the second in a series, such as a musician's second album.
"Critics said the band's sophomore album lacked the spark of their debut."
"The author's sophomore novel sold well, though some readers preferred her first book."
"Fans were eager to hear the singer's sophomore record after such a strong debut."
How to use sophomore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA second-year student, or the second thing in a series (album, season, etc).
Common pairings
sophomore year
sophomore album
sophomore slump
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Word forms
- Plural
- sophomores
Fill the gap
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As a _____, she finally got to choose her own electives.
Etymology
From an older word sophum, "a display of clever but flawed argument," from Greek sophisma — likely blended in people's minds with Greek sophos ("wise") and moros ("foolish"), giving the word its odd "wise fool" flavour.
Synonyms
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second-year student
soph
Related words
Rhymes for sophomore
See all rhymes for sophomore →Frequently asked questions
What does “sophomore” mean?
The word “sophomore” means a student in their second year of high school or university. In plain terms, a second-year student, or the second thing in a series (album, season, etc).
How do you pronounce “sophomore”?
“Sophomore” is pronounced SOF-uh-maw (/ˈsɑf.mɔɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sophomore” in a sentence?
Here is “sophomore” used in a sentence: “As a sophomore, she finally got to choose her own electives.”
What part of speech is “sophomore”?
Depending on how it is used, “sophomore” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “sophomore” come from?
The word “sophomore” comes from Greek. From an older word sophum, "a display of clever but flawed argument," from Greek sophisma — likely blended in people's minds with Greek sophos ("wise") and moros ("foolish"), giving the word its odd "wise fool" flavour.
Is “sophomore” a common word?
“Sophomore” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “sophomore” have?
“Sophomore” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a student in their second year of high school or university.
What is the difference between a sophomore and a freshman?
A sophomore is a student in their second year of high school or university, while a freshman is a student in their first year. The terms are part of a sequence that continues with junior (third year) and senior (fourth year).
What does "sophomore" mean when describing an album or project?
When used as an adjective, "sophomore" describes the second in a series, such as a musician's second album, often called a "sophomore album" or "sophomore release." This usage extends the academic sense of second-year status to any creative body of work.
What is a "sophomore slump"?
A "sophomore slump" refers to a decline in performance or quality in someone's or something's second attempt, following a strong first effort, such as a student's second year or a band's second album. The term draws on the adjective sense of "sophomore" meaning the second in a series.
