sophomore

1 of 2

noun

soph·​o·​more ˈsäf-ˌmȯr How to pronounce sophomore (audio)
 also  ˈsȯf-,
 or  ˈsä-fə-,
 or  ˈsȯ-fə-
Synonyms of sophomorenext
: a student in the second year at college or a 4-year secondary school

sophomore

2 of 2

adjective

: being or associated with the second in a series
their sophomore album

Examples of sophomore in a Sentence

Noun She's a sophomore in high school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
On Thursday, sophomore Andrew Goldman had a 66% average in faceoffs with 10 ground balls to earn MVP honors in Loyola’s 14-11 win over San Francisco St. Ignatius, the No. 1 lacrosse team in the state. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2025 Jaxson Davis, a star sophomore guard with offers from several high-major colleges, was terrific for Warren (28-10), which advanced to take on Benet (32-5) in the state final at 8 p.m. Saturday. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
And there’s also sophomore Holloway, who scored 26 points in Alabama’s last outing before conference play began and added 10 points on Saturday. — Kennington Smith Iii, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025 This season is so interesting, because sophomore year is a really unique time in the college experience. — Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for sophomore

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps from Greek sophos wise + mōros foolish

First Known Use

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sophomore was in 1688

Rhymes for sophomore

See All Rhymes for sophomore

Browse Nearby Words

Sophocles
sophomore
sophomoric
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sophomore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sophomore. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

sophomore

noun
soph·​o·​more
ˈsäf-ˌmō(ə)r,
-ˌmȯ(ə)r;
ˈsäf-ᵊm-ˌō(ə)r,
-ˌȯ(ə)r
: a student in his or her second year at a 4-year high school or college

More from Merriam-Webster on sophomore

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sophomore

Nglish: Translation of sophomore for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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