cub

noun

ˈkəb 

1

a

: a young carnivorous mammal (such as a bear, fox, or lion)

b

: a young shark

2

: a young person

3

: apprentice

especially : an inexperienced newspaper reporter

Synonyms

• abecedarian
• apprentice
• babe
• beginner
• colt
• fledgling
• freshman
• greenhorn
• neophyte
• newbie
• newcomer
• novice
• novitiate
• punk
• recruit
• rook
• rookie
• tenderfoot
• tyro
• virgin

Examples of cub in a Sentence

the kind of big story that can propel a cub reporter into the stratosphere of the newspaper world

assigned to teach a bunch of young cubs how to play baseball

Recent Examples on the Web

At the zoo, these cubs join the Cat Ambassador Program and are hand-raised by keepers. —Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 26 Oct. 2024

The 400-pound female bear birthed 18 cubs since 2004, eight surviving to adulthood. —Alice Jones Webb, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024

Pom moved on to his next conquest: a mother and cub who evaded him by scaling a tree. —Stephanie Vermillion, USA TODAY, 19 Oct. 2024

Zoo: Voters were tasked with choosing the name of the first tiger cub born at the Louisville Zoo in 20 years. —Ray Padilla, The Courier-Journal, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably akin to Middle English cobbe leader of a group, head — more at cob

First Known Use

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing cub

• cub reporter

Kids Definition

cub

noun

ˈkəb 

1

a

: a young flesh-eating mammal (as a bear, fox, or lion)

b

: a young shark

2

: a young person

3

: a person just learning a job : apprentice

a cub reporter

a cub pilot

4

: cub scout