Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun One that is new to something, especially a novice at using computer technology or the Internet.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Internet A new user or participant; someone who is extremely new and inexperienced (to a game or activity). A beginner.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun any new participant in some activity

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From new (with b as in freebie).]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Origin uncertain: perhaps an alteration of newie with intrusive B (compare freebie), perhaps a shortening of new boy or new beginner. Very likely originated in Newfoundland, where the term 'new boy' is quite common, and sounds like 'newbie' when spoken.

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Examples

  • But the newbie is usually an idealistic recent law school grads who loosens his tie after a long day in court and goes out to a bar with fellow young grads who remind each other that while you win some — and get ready for the flipperoo — you lose some as well!

    Josh Wolk's Pop Culture Club talks 'The Good Wife': Who knew we needed another legal show? | EW.com 2009

  • Thus, the number one gear advice I can give to the newbie is a good book on the basics of fly fishing.

    Thumbs Up: The Orvis Guide to Beginning Fly Fishing 2009

  • Being a newbie is advantageous in that you will be viewing the culture fresh, learning the local dialect as a matter of course, and will elicit all kinds of assistance from helpful folks when shopping, setting up a bank account, etc.

    Sending a Child to School in Mexico 2008

  • Being a newbie is advantageous in that you will be viewing the culture fresh, learning the local dialect as a matter of course, and will elicit all kinds of assistance from helpful folks when shopping, setting up a bank account, etc.

    Sending a Child to School in Mexico 2008

  • To deliver such a prominent franchise into the hands of a relative newbie is a great show of faith from the publisher, but you can be sure that their decision hasn't been incidental and I don't think we'll see a drop in quality.

    Archive 2009-06-01 2009

  • To deliver such a prominent franchise into the hands of a relative newbie is a great show of faith from the publisher, but you can be sure that their decision hasn't been incidental and I don't think we'll see a drop in quality.

    Eye Candy Covers XI 2009

  • Get to know some people and ask questions and don't be afraid to admit you're a "newbie" - after all, these people had to start somewhere also, right?

    Expecting Rain 2008

  • The other newbie is Ilanna, a European female in her late 20s to early 30s who possesses great intelligence, but who’s also dangerous as all get out.

    The Tail Section » Entertainment Weekly Dishes on Two New Characters 2008

  • The term newbie or noob, originally thought to be from British public-school and military slang "new boy," was first spotted in the Usenet newsgroup talk. bizarre as an insult to a clueless newcomer.

    Alphabet of Computing 2009

  • In that group I am a newbie, which is funny since I've been at Tor nearly half its lifetime.

    Archive 2009-08-01 Irene Gallo 2009

Comments

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  • Baby talk!! We already have adjectives: new and beginning, and nouns: novice, beginner, newcomer

    February 3, 2008