rookie

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports American English

n. an athlete who is in their first year of playing a professional sport.

n. a professional athlete in their first season of competition within a specific league.

“The rookie scored three goals in his very first game for the team.”

“The league named him Rookie of the Year after he broke several long-standing records during his debut season.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

adj. describing a mistake or behavior that shows you are new and inexperienced.

adj. characteristic of a beginner; often used to describe errors resulting from a lack of experience.

“Forgetting to save your work is a rookie mistake that most people only make once.”

“The negotiator made a rookie error by revealing his maximum budget before the discussions had even properly commenced.”

C2 · Proficiency Informal · Slang

v. to spend time as a beginner or to go through your first year of training.

v. to serve as a rookie or undergo an initial period of professional inexperience.

“He spent two years rookieing in the minor leagues before getting his big break.”

“The documentary follows several young pilots as they rookie through their first high-pressure assignments in the air force.”