- a first-year student at college or university
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
fresh•man /ˈfrɛʃmən/USA pronunciation
n. [countable], pl. -men.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- Educationa student in the first year at a university, college, or high school.
- a beginner;
someone lacking experience:a freshman in politics.
fresh•man
(fresh′mən),USA pronunciation n., pl. -men, adj.
n.
adj.
fresh′man•ship′, n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n.
- Educationa student in the first year of the course at a university, college, or high school.
- a novice;
beginner.
adj.
- Educationof, pertaining to, or characteristic of a freshman:to outgrow one's freshman attitudes.
- lacking seniority or experience;
junior:a freshman senator. - Educationrequired of or suitable for freshmen:freshman courses.
- initial;
first:This is my freshman year with the company.
- fresh + -man 1540–50
- See -man.
fresh•er
(fresh′ər),USA pronunciation n. [Brit. Slang.]
- British Termsfreshman.
- fresh(man) + -er1 1880–85
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
fresher /ˈfrɛʃə/, freshman /ˈfrɛʃmən/ n ( pl -ers, -men)
'freshman' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
fresher
- frosh
- lowerclassman
- big sister
- crew
- ding
- fledgling
- freshmanic
- freshman week
- man
- pass
- plebe
- take
- underclassman