novice

/ˈnɑːvɪs/
noun
  1. A person who is new to a field, activity, or skill; a beginner.
    • He was a novice in the kitchen, but he learned quickly.
    • As a novice at chess, she lost her first few games.
    • The workshop is designed for novices who have never used a camera before.
  2. A person who has entered a religious order but has not yet taken final vows.
    • The novice spent her first year in the convent learning the rules.
    • The novices were given simple tasks to teach them humility.
    • He became a novice at the monastery after graduating from college.
adjective
  1. Being a beginner; inexperienced.
    • The novice driver was nervous on the highway.
    • She took a novice class in pottery to learn the basics.
    • His novice attempts at painting were charming but clumsy.