# inexperienced

/ɪnɪkˈspɪɹiənst/ (US) · /ˌɪnɛkspˈiəɹɪənst/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/inexperienced
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "he is unexperienced" but "he is inexperienced" — While 'un-' is a common prefix for adjectives, 'inexperienced' is the standard form; 'unexperienced' is considered non-standard or archaic.

## Usage notes

- Commonly followed by the preposition 'in' or 'at' when specifying a field or activity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.