underclassmen
/ˌʌndərˈklæs mən/
Definition
Students who are in their first or second year of high school or college; freshmen and sophomores.
Etymology
The word is a compound of 'under-' (meaning lower in rank or position) and 'classman' (a student in a specific year/class). It entered American English in the late 19th century to formally distinguish younger students from the 'upperclassmen' who occupy the final two years of study.
In the news
The article uses the term to describe the Capital basketball team's composition last season, noting that a lack of experienced upperclassmen contributed to the team's struggles. This highlights the difficulty of building a competitive program when relying heavily on younger, less seasoned players.
Coach Gomez leaves big shoes to fill for Capital boys basketball
Read the full article ↗Santa Fe New Mexican