A rookie is someone who has just started doing a job and does not have much experience, especially someone who has just joined the army or police force.
[mainly US, informal]
I don't want to have another rookie to train.
...a rookie police officer.
2. countable noun
A rookie is a person who has been competing in a professional sport for less than a year.
[US]
rookie in British English
(ˈrʊkɪ)
noun
informal
an inexperienced person or newcomer, esp a raw recruit in the army
Word origin
C20: changed from recruit
rookie in American English
(ˈrʊki)
noun
1. Slang
an inexperienced recruit in the army or on a police force
2. US, Sport
a first-year or first-time player in a particular league, event, etc.
3. Informal
any beginner or novice
Word origin
altered < ? recruit
Examples of 'rookie' in a sentence
rookie
`A rookie salesman would have done better," he confessed to Hank.
St. James, Ian FINAL RESORT (1995)
Fewter doesn't want to lose you, and I don't want to have another rookie to train.
Hilton, John Buxton PASSION IN THE PEAK (1995)
He held up a hypodermic to check the dosage in the light, no longer the first-time rookie crewman, but a physician with a patient.
Lunnon-Wood, Mike LET NOT THE DEEP (1995)
The evidence tech, now just waiting for Molly to be finished so he could take away the gun, stood with the rookie.
Dreyer, Eileen BAD MEDICINE (1995)
In other languages
rookie
British English: rookie NOUN
A rookie is someone who has just started doing a job and does not have much experience, especially someone who has just joined the army or police force.