A rookie
Meaning
A person who is new to an organization, profession, or activity and lacks experience.
Origin
The term "rookie" burst onto the American linguistic scene in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a punchy, clipped evolution of the more formal "recruit." Initially, it found its stronghold in the military, a slang label for fresh, inexperienced soldiers just starting their training—young men still finding their footing, prone to mistakes. From the drill grounds, it marched directly into the world of professional sports, particularly baseball, where a "rookie" was a first-year player, raw but full of potential, facing the big leagues for the very first time. This transition cemented "rookie" as the quintessential identifier for any enthusiastic but unseasoned newcomer, eager to prove their worth.
Examples
- Even though he was a rookie, his performance on the field showed surprising promise.
- The company prefers to hire a rookie they can train from scratch rather than someone with entrenched bad habits.