Word
inexperienced
Phoneticsin·ex·pe·ri·enced, stress on the third syllable
US/ɪnɪkˈspɪɹiənst/
UK/ˌɪnɛkspˈiəɹɪənst/
Definition
adj. having little or no knowledge or skill in a particular job or activity. You use this to describe someone who is new to a task and still learning.
adj. lacking the knowledge, skill, or proficiency gained through practice or exposure. Often used to describe a professional or social status relative to a specific field.
Examples
“The company hired an inexperienced assistant for the summer.”
“Because the hikers were inexperienced, they failed to bring enough water for the steep mountain trail.”
“While the candidate showed great potential, the board felt she was too inexperienced to manage a department of fifty people during such a volatile economic period.”
Examples
simple
“The company hired an inexperienced assistant for the summer.”
contextual
“Because the hikers were inexperienced, they failed to bring enough water for the steep mountain trail.”
complex
“While the candidate showed great potential, the board felt she was too inexperienced to manage a department of fifty people during such a volatile economic period.”
Usage
Commonly followed by the preposition 'in' or 'at' when specifying a field or activity.
Pitfall
he is unexperienced
he is inexperienced
While 'un-' is a common prefix for adjectives, 'inexperienced' is the standard form; 'unexperienced' is considered non-standard or archaic.
Etymology
From in- + experienced.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
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