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Neophyte is hardly a new addition to the English language—it's been part of the English vocabulary since the 14th century. It traces back through Late Latin to the Greek word neophytos, meaning "newly planted" or "newly converted." These Greek and Latin roots were directly transplanted into the early English uses of neophyte, which first referred to a person newly converted to a religion or cause. By the 1600s, neophyte had gained a more general sense of "a beginner or novice." Today you might consider it a formal elder sibling of such recent informal coinages as newbie and noob.
Examples of neophyte in a Sentence
Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
It’s been a long time since South Texas politics has produced such an unusual and high-stakes congressional race as this year’s battle between a two-term Republican incumbent and her Democratic opponent, a charismatic political neophyte who’s accustomed to being in the public eye.
—Joe Holley, Washington Post, 29 Apr. 2026
This is a lovely film that will appeal to Bernstein’s most ardent fans, while warmly inviting neophytes into his world.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2026
Democrats have backed Chris Kluwe, a former NFL punter and political neophyte who largely regurgitates progressive talking points on everything from healthcare to taxation.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Neophyte.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neophyte. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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neophyte
noun
