rookie

noun

rook·​ie ˈru̇-kē How to pronounce rookie (audio)
Synonyms of rookienext
1
: recruit
also : novice
2
: a first-year participant in a major professional sport

Synonyms of rookie

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Examples of rookie in a Sentence

There are three rookies in the starting lineup. an experienced policeman whose partner is a rookie
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.
New York rookie Spencer Jones drove two runs, with a single in the second and his first career triple in the fifth. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026 He has been assigned to the rookie level affiliate of the Blue Jays in the Florida Complex League. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026 Rogers, then a rookie, started the final six games of the year in his absence. — Sam Warren, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026 Still, Gay values doing the right thing for the rookies and the game of football. — Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rookie

Word History

Etymology

perhaps alteration of recruit

First Known Use

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rookie was in 1868

Rhymes for rookie

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Browse Nearby Words

rookery
rookie
rookus
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Cite this Entry

“Rookie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rookie. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

rookie

noun
rook·​ie ˈru̇k-ē How to pronounce rookie (audio)
: beginner, recruit
especially : a first-year player in a professional sport

More from Merriam-Webster on rookie

Nglish: Translation of rookie for Spanish Speakers

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