English dictionary · noun

neophyte

A beginner; a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.

Meaning and definitions

1. A beginner; a person who is new to a subject, skill, or belief.
2. A novice (recent convert); a new convert or proselyte; a new monk.
3. Among the early Christians, and still among the Roman Catholics, one who has recently embraced the Christian faith, and been admitted to baptism, especially those converts from heathenism or Judaism.

Connected roots

• neo-

  new

• phyt-

  plant

Explore the word family

These words share a recorded root connection. A shared root is a learning clue; it does not establish every step in a word’s history.

• neon

  The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.

• phytoplankton

  Plankton, especially those small in size, that obtain energy by photosynthesis.

• neodymium

  A chemical element (symbol Nd) with an atomic number of 60: a hard, slightly malleable silvery rare earth metal that quickly tarnishes in air and moisture.

• neologism

  a newly coined word or expression

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