Etymology

From earlier sophumer, from the obsolete sophom, sophum (“sophism or dialectical exercise”), from Ancient GreekCategory:English terms derived from Ancient Greek#SOPHOMORE σόφισμα (sóphisma). Likely influenced by Ancient Greek σοφός (sophós, “wise”) + μωρός (mōrós, “fool”). Compare oxymoron (literally “sharp-dull”), a similar contradiction.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈsɒf.ə.mɔː/Category:English 3-syllable words#SOPHOMORECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#SOPHOMORE

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SOPHOMORE
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈsɑf.mɔɹ/, /ˈsɔf.mɔɹ/Category:English 2-syllable words#SOPHOMORECategory:English 2-syllable words#SOPHOMORECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#SOPHOMORE

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SOPHOMORE
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ˈsɒf(ə)mɔɹ/Category:English 3-syllable words#SOPHOMORECategory:English terms with IPA pronunciation#SOPHOMORE

  • Audio (Canada):

    (file)

    Category:English terms with audio pronunciation#SOPHOMORE

Adjective

sophomore (not comparable)Category:English lemmas#SOPHOMORECategory:English adjectives#SOPHOMORECategory:English uncomparable adjectives#SOPHOMORECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SOPHOMORECategory:Pages with entries#SOPHOMORECategory:Pages with 1 entry#SOPHOMORE

1. (USCategory:American English#SOPHOMORE) The second in a series, especially, the second of an artist’s albums or the second of four years in a high school (tenth grade) or university.

   Coordinate term: debut

   The band’s sophomore album built upon the success of their debut release, catapulting them to megastardom.Category:English terms with usage examples#SOPHOMORE

   • 2016 August 21, Joe Coscarelli, “Frank Ocean Finally Delivers His Album, and a Pop-Up Surprise”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, archived from the original on 8 November 2020:

     “Blonde,” which is spelled “Blond” on the album cover and “Blonde” on Apple and elsewhere, hews more closely to what was expected from a sophomore release by one of the most lauded and enigmatic young singers in pop music.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOPHOMORE

   • 2020 June 30, Spencer Wright, “My fraternity taught me the secret to surviving a pandemic”, in CNN‎:

     I pledged for DKA my sophomore year and went through a rigorous process of weekly meetings and projects, each designed to build fraternal bonds and to teach values such as honesty, reliability and generosity.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOPHOMORE

   • 2021 March 5, Jason Bailey, “Watch These 13 Titles on Netflix Before They Leave This Month”, in The New York Times‎, →ISSN, archived from the original on 6 March 2021:

     Spike Lee’s sophomore film, after his micro-budgeted and critically acclaimed debut, “She’s Gotta Have It,” was this big, bold ensemble musical set on the campus of a Historically Black College over a busy homecoming weekend.

     Category:English terms with quotations#SOPHOMORE

2. Sophomoric.

Noun

sophomore (plural sophomores)Category:English lemmas#SOPHOMORECategory:English nouns#SOPHOMORECategory:English countable nouns#SOPHOMORECategory:English entries with incorrect language header#SOPHOMORECategory:Pages with entries#SOPHOMORECategory:Pages with 1 entry#SOPHOMORE

1. (USCategory:American English#SOPHOMORE, PhilippinesCategory:Philippine English#SOPHOMORE) A second-year undergraduate student in a college or university, or a second-year student in a four-year secondary school or high school.

   She was very mature for a sophomore and had several friends who were juniors or even seniors.Category:English terms with usage examples#SOPHOMORE

2. (USCategory:American English#SOPHOMORE, horse-racing) A three-year-old horse.

   The filly had looked promising as a sophomore, but concerns over her health had prompted the owner to pull her from the season’s early races.Category:English terms with usage examples#SOPHOMORE

Further reading

• sophomore on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• homospore, osmophore