ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sophomore

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈsɑfˌmɔɹ// UK //sˈɒfəmˌɔː// sopho·more

n. a student in their second year of high school or college. It is mostly used in the United States to describe someone who is no longer a beginner but not yet a senior.

n. a student in the second year of a four-year secondary school or university course. Primarily North American in usage.


SIMPLE

She is a sophomore at the local university.

CONTEXTUAL

During his sophomore year, he decided to change his major from biology to history.

COMPLEX

The transition from freshman to sophomore status often brings a heavier workload as students begin to take more specialized courses within their chosen academic discipline.

Synonyms
Origin

From earlier sophumer, from the obsolete sophom, sophum (“sophism or dialectical exercise”), from Ancient Greek σόφισμα (sóphisma). Likely influenced by Ancient Greek σοφός (sophós, “wise”) + μωρός (mōrós, “fool”). Compare oxymoron (literally “sharp-dull”), a similar contradiction.

Usage

Commonly used as a noun, but can also function as an adjective to describe things related to this year, such as a 'sophomore album'.

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