Newbie is an informal word for a beginner: someone who has just started an activity or joined a team. An experienced manager can easily be a complete newbie at pottery. It sounds friendly, often self-mocking: I'm a newbie here. In neutral writing, use beginner or newcomer.
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a newbie; a complete newbie; advice for newbies; newbie at something
- I am a complete newbie at pottery, so I started with a small bowl.
- The cycling club pairs newbies with patient riders on their first outing.
- Even a newbie can follow this recipe if the ingredients are measured first.
What changed
First versionThe club welcomes complete newbie and gives them a short introduction.
RevisionThe club welcomes complete newbies and gives them a short introduction.
When you talk about beginners in general, you need the plural: welcomes complete newbies. The -s is easy to lose at the end of a long phrase. For one person, say a complete newbie.
Noob also means beginner, but it comes from gaming and sounds mocking. A rookie is new to a sport or profession, more common in American English. Beginner is the neutral word for any text.
Your turn
Choose the plural noun: The workshop is designed for complete ___.
Show the answer
newbies — After for complete you need the plural newbies. The singular newbie would need an article: for a complete newbie.
Tell about an activity you're just starting to learn. Use a complete newbie and add one small first step.
I'm a complete newbie at birdwatching, so today I learned to identify three birds in the park.
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