novice

UK /ˈnɒvɪs/ US /ˈnɑvɪs/

noun 2adj 1

Definitions

noun

A beginner; one who is not very familiar or experienced in a particular subject.

I'm only a novice at coding, and my programs frequently have bugs that more experienced programmers would avoid.

A new member of a religious order accepted on a conditional basis, prior to confirmation.

Nor had it been difficult to find a Coptic priest who, together with his youthful novice, chanted the seemingly interminable Egyptian service of the dead […]

adj

Of a beginner; unfamiliar or unexperienced in a particular subject.

Collocations

(noun.)

ADJ

absolute, complete

young

NOVICE + NOUN

user

A novice user might find the software confusing at first, but it becomes easier with practice.

pilot, sailor, teacher, etc.

PREP

~ at

My brother is a complete novice at cooking, so he burned the pasta last night.

~ in

My older brother was a complete novice in cooking when he first moved out on his own.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

noun — someone new to a field or activity

beginner
tyro
tiro
initiate

noun — someone who has entered a religious order but has not taken

novitiate

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

Example Bank

I'm only a novice at coding, and my programs frequently have bugs that more experienced programmers would avoid.

Wiktionary

Nor had it been difficult to find a Coptic priest who, together with his youthful novice, chanted the seemingly interminable Egyptian service of the dead […]

Wiktionary

I'm a novice at programming, but I learn quickly.

Tatoeba · #5282345

At first, the missile designers would not talk to him because they thought of him as an inexperienced novice.

Tatoeba · #5379850

The boys served as novice monks to give thanks for their survival and to show their gratitude to all those who helped them.

Tatoeba · #7042932

Don't blame him, he's a novice.

Tatoeba · #7304547

Usage Notes

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