Meaning & use
freshmen
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“freshmen” is a form of “freshman”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluralAmerican
Students in their first year at a high school or college.
Grammar: Plural of freshman: one freshman, two freshmen.
Patterns
- freshmen at somewhere
- freshmen year
The freshmen gathered in the gym for orientation.
Most freshmen live in the same dormitory building.
Freshmen must take a writing course.
nounpluralinformal
People who are new to any activity or position, especially in government or sport.
Grammar: Often used with a role: freshmen senators.
Patterns
- freshmen in something
The freshmen in Congress held a press event.
Freshmen on the team carry the equipment.
Several freshmen lawmakers backed the bill.
Word forms
| singular | freshman |
|---|
Common combinations
- incoming freshmen
- Incoming freshmen toured the campus.
- freshmen orientation
- Freshmen orientation begins on Monday.
- class of freshmen
- A class of freshmen filled the hall.
- freshmen dorm
- The freshmen dorm is near the library.
Synonyms and how they differ
- first-years
- First-years is neutral and used in British and modern American speech.
- newcomers
- Newcomers is broader and not tied to school.
- rookies
- Rookies is informal and used mostly in sport or work.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: freshmen or freshman's?
freshmen vs freshman's
Freshman's (possessive) and freshmen's (plural possessive) are different forms; the plural is simply freshmen.
Practice
The college welcomed over a thousand ___ at the start of September.
Choose one answer.
Freshman has an irregular plural, freshmen. The other forms are incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “freshmen”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.