variants or first year
plural first-years or first years
: a student in the first year (as at a high school or college) : a first-year student
Experts say fledgling first-years can expect to experience the thrill of autonomy, of being in the driver's seat for what may be the first time ever.Jan McCoy Ebbets

Examples of first-year in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Consider that Oregon coach Dan Lanning, who Schumann replaced in Athens, is rolling with two first-year coordinators this year. Connor Riley, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The joint practice setting finally offered first-year coach Jeff Hafley an opportunity to gauge his team against someone other than his own players. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 12 Aug. 2026 The chance for McCarthy to lead his hometown team brought the first-year Pittsburgh Steelers coach to tears when he was hired in January. ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026 The Titans, all due respect to first-year coach Robert Saleh, made for a simple sparring partner. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for first-year

Word History

First Known Use

1986, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of first-year was in 1986

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Cite this Entry

“First-year.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/first-year. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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