what is a novice

A novice is a person who is new to a particular activity, job, or circumstance and has little or no experience in it. The term can also refer to a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation before taking vows. In sports, a novice athlete competing in their first season or league is often referred to as a rookie. In National Hunt racing, a novice is a horse that has not won a race under a particular code before the current season. In figure skating competitions, novice has two meanings. For the U.S. Figure Skating Association, it refers to a skill level, while the International Skating Union uses it to designate age. In the sport of crew (rowing), the term is used for an athlete in their first year of competition. On the internet, a novice might be called a newbie.