newcomer

newcomer — noun

1. someone who has just moved somewhere new or just begun a particular activity for

1.nounB1
Definition

someone who has just moved somewhere new or just begun a particular activity for the first time

Example

When Dahlia moved from Seoul to Taipei, she felt like a newcomer in every way.

feel like a newcomer — describing the experience of being new

The community centre offers language classes for newcomers who want to learn Mandarin.

Common collocations
  • newcomer to
  • newcomer in
  • feel like a newcomer
  • newcomer orientation
  • newcomer program
  • welcome newcomers
Synonyms
  • new arrival

    neutral alternative, slightly more formal; emphasises the act of arriving rather than the state of being new

  • newbie

    informal, especially common in online communities, gaming, and technology contexts

  • beginner

    focuses on lack of experience in an activity; does not apply to someone new to a place

  • rookie

    informal; commonly used in sports, military, and work settings for someone in their first year

Antonyms
  • veteran

    someone with extensive experience in an activity

  • old-timer

    informal; someone who has been in a place or activity for a very long time

  • local

    a person who has lived in a place for a long time, not a recent arrival

Grammar Patterns

newcomer + to + [place/activity]

Usage Note

Commonly used with the preposition 'to' to specify the place or activity that is new: 'a newcomer to the city', 'a newcomer to tennis'. Often follows 'feel like' to describe the personal experience of being in an unfamiliar environment. Informal alternatives include 'newbie' (common in online and gaming contexts) and 'rookie' (used in sports and work).

Common Mistakes

I am a new comer to this office.
I am a newcomer to this office.
'Newcomer' is one word, not two.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Newcomer' is the most neutral term for someone new to a place or activity. 'New arrival' is a near-synonym but places more emphasis on the act of arriving than on the resulting state of unfamiliarity — you might say 'new arrivals at the airport' but not 'newcomers at the airport'. 'Newbie' is distinctly informal and common in tech and gaming circles ('The forum has a guide for newbies'), while 'newcomer' works in any register from casual to formal. 'Beginner' applies only to activities and skills, not to places — you can be a beginner at chess but not a beginner to a city. 'Rookie' is a borrowed sports term now used broadly for anyone in their first year of a job or role, carrying a slightly informal, energetic tone. Choose 'newcomer' when you need a neutral word that works for both people and activities, and across any level of formality.

new arrivalnewbie ↗beginner ↗rookie ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • feel like a newcomer
  • welcome a newcomer
  • a newcomer to the area

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Newcomer' is a compound word formed from Old English 'nīwe' (new) and 'cuma' (one who comes, a guest or stranger). The word has been in written English since the early 14th century, originally meaning a person who has recently arrived in a community. The 'comer' part comes from the verb 'come', which traces back to Proto-Germanic 'kweman' and ultimately to Proto-Indo-European 'gʷem-' (to go, to come).