Added 9 October 2026
sophomore
/ˈsɒf.ə.mɔː/ noun
noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about sophomore at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
adjective
Origin
From earlier sophumer, from the obsolete sophom, sophum (“sophism or dialectical exercise”), from Ancient Greek σόφισμα (sóphisma). Likely influenced by Ancient Greek σοφός (sophós, “wise”) + μωρός (mōrós, “fool”). Compare oxymoron (literally “sharp-dull”), a similar contradiction.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)