Meaning & use

sophomore

noun·Everyday

A student in the second year of high school or college in the United States.

See it in a sentence

As a sophomore, she finally felt confident navigating the huge campus.

Sophomores in the program take their first lab-based science course that spring.

A note on using this word

Sophomore is specific to the American education system; other English-speaking countries use different terms for second-year students.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. adjective

Relating to a second attempt or effort, especially a musician's or writer's second work.

Critics called the band's sophomore album more ambitious than their debut.

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