newbie

noun

new·​bie ˈnü-bē 

ˈnyü-

informal

: a person who has recently started a particular activity : beginner, novice, newcomer

It's true that some users–particularly newbies—fall into the Web like Alice down the rabbit hole.

—Scott Kirsner

What will happen when all those newbie politicians sit down in the swivel chair for the first time?

—Geoff Clark

Synonyms

• abecedarian
• apprentice
• babe
• beginner
• colt
• cub
• fledgling
• freshman
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• newcomer
• novice
• novitiate
• punk
• recruit
• rook
• rookie
• tenderfoot
• tyro
• virgin

Examples of newbie in a Sentence

He is a newbie to local politics.

a newbie to woodworking, he was still trying to learn all the terms and techniques of the craft

Recent Examples on the Web

But this will be an accessible review for families interested in an alternative to a second car and who, like me, may be cargo e-bike newbies. —Beth Mole, Ars Technica, 5 Apr. 2024

Winter camping in Glacier National Park is not for newbies. —Catherine Garcia, theweek, 7 Feb. 2024

See The Creators Rhimes, then a TV newbie with a few screenplay credits to her name, resisted network concerns about putting such a messy woman at the center of a TV show. —Meredith Blake, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2024

Expert skiers and riders can chase tight and steep tree runs while newbies get an intro to backcountry experience in gentle, open terrain. —Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

irregular from new

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

newbie

noun

new·​bie ˈn(y)ü-bē 

informal

: a newcomer especially to cyberspace