Freshmen or Freshman

The term freshmen and freshman are commonly used in educational contexts to refer to students in their first year of study at a college or university. Freshman is the singular form, while freshmen is the plural form.

The terms freshman and freshmen both pertain to students in their first year of study at a college or university, but they differ in grammatical number and usage.

What does freshman mean?

Freshman is the singular form, referring to a single student in their first year.

Example sentence

She is a freshman majoring in biology.

What does freshmen mean?

Freshmen is the plural form, indicating a group of students in their first year collectively.

Example sentence

The freshmen on campus are excited about their upcoming orientation.

The distinction between these terms is similar to that of other nouns in English. For instance, "man" is singular, while "men" is plural. Similarly, "woman" is singular, and "women" is plural.

Common idioms/phrases

Freshman 15: This phrase refers to the belief or observation that some college freshmen may gain around 15 pounds (or roughly 7 kilograms) during their first year of college due to changes in diet and lifestyle.
Freshman orientation: This term describes the orientation program or activities that universities and colleges organize for incoming freshmen to help them acclimate to campus life and academic expectations.
Fish out of water: While not using the word "freshman" directly, this idiom implies the feeling of being out of place or uncomfortable, which is a common sentiment among freshmen in a new environment.
Freshman jitters: The nervousness or anxiety often experienced by first-year students when starting college or a new school.
Freshman year: Refers to a student's first year of high school or college, and it's often used to describe the challenges and experiences of that initial year.
Freshman class: Denotes the group of students who are in their first year of a particular educational institution, such as a university or college.
Green as a freshman: This phrase implies inexperience, comparing someone's newness or naiveté to that of a freshman.
Older and wiser: Often used in contrast to the inexperience associated with being a freshman, this idiom suggests that with time and experience, people become more knowledgeable and savvy.
Trial by fire: Although not directly related to "freshman," this idiom is sometimes used in the context of someone, like a freshman, facing a challenging or difficult situation for the first time.

More example sentences

I was a freshman last year, and now I'm helping the incoming freshmen get acclimated.
The freshmen class this year is the largest the university has ever seen.
Each freshman must complete a series of core courses before selecting a major.
The freshmen have organized a welcome party to meet their fellow students.

In summary, "freshman" and "freshmen" refer to students in their first year of college, with "freshman" denoting a single student and "freshmen" referring to a group of students. The choice between the two depends on whether you are discussing an individual or a collective group of first-year students.

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