Noun

1. A beginner; one who is not very familiar or experienced in a particular subject.

   I'm only a novice at coding, and my programs frequently have bugs that more experienced programmers wouldn't make.

2. A new member of a religious order accepted on a conditional basis, prior to confirmation.

   The sisterhood required that prospective novices take an introductory course before applying to join the order.

Synonyms

• (person new to an activity): amateur, greenhorn, learner, neophyte, newbie
• See also Wikisaurus:beginner