# novice

/ˈnɑvəs/ (US) · /nˈɒvɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/novice
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. a beginner

noun · CEFR B2

someone who is new to a job, sport, or hobby and does not have much skill yet.

For teachers: a person who is new to and inexperienced in a particular field, trade, or situation.

- Even a novice can learn to bake this simple bread in one afternoon.
- The workshop is designed to guide the complete novice through the basics of coding before moving on to more complex software architecture.

### 2. religious trainee

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Technical

a person who has joined a religious group, like monks or nuns, but has not yet taken their final vows.

For teachers: a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, but has not yet taken final vows.

- The young novice spent his first year at the monastery in quiet study.
- During her time as a novice, she was expected to follow the strict daily routine of the convent to determine if she was suited for a life of service.

### 3. inexperienced

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing someone who is just starting to learn a skill.

For teachers: relating to or characteristic of a beginner; lacking experience in a specific domain.

- He made a few novice mistakes during his first week at the office.
- The climber's novice technique was apparent as he struggled with the steeper sections of the granite face.

## Examples

- The ski slope is perfect for a novice.
- Even a complete novice can learn to bake bread using this simple, step-by-step guide.
- The tournament was divided into two brackets to ensure that every novice had the opportunity to compete against opponents of a similar skill level before facing the masters.

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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.