Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

novitiate

noun
/nəˈvɪʃ.i.ət/
Definition
A person who is new to a religious order and is undergoing training or instruction.
Examples
  • The novitiate spent a year learning about the values and practices of the order.
  • After his novitiate, he was accepted as a full member of the monastic community.
Meaning
The term refers to someone who is in the initial stages of becoming a member of a religious community, often undergoing a probationary period.
Synonyms
  • trainee
  • novice
  • beginner
  • neophyte