What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
amateur
Example
He's an amateur photographer who takes pictures as a hobby. [amateur: noun]
Example
She gave an amateur performance at the local theater. [amateur: adjective]
novice
Example
As a novice gardener, she's still learning how to care for her plants. [novice: noun]
Example
He made some novice mistakes while trying to fix the car. [novice: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Amateur is more commonly used than novice in everyday language, especially when talking about hobbies or activities done for pleasure. Novice is more commonly used in professional or educational contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between amateur and novice?
Novice is generally considered more formal than amateur, as it is often used in professional or educational contexts.
