freshmanitis

English

Etymology

From freshman +‎ -itis, on the pattern of senioritis.

Pronunciation

• Audio (US):

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Noun

freshmanitis (uncountable)

1. (US, rare) A tendency of (mostly college) freshmen to be overwhelmed by the amount of work as well as make unwise choices.
   • 2015 April 17, Lisa Mengotto, “Freshmanitis”, in The Stute‎^[1]:

     Freshmanitis is justifying poor decisions because you’re a Freshman. It’s like “YOLO,” but instead you say, “I’m a freshman – I didn’t know better.”

   • 2015 September 7, Erik Chiodo, “A treatment for freshmanitis: Some tips for freshman year”, in Campus Times‎^[2]:

     Since one of the common psychological symptoms of freshmanitis is increased appetite, it is believed that giving students the option to eat as much as they want will often lead to Freshman 15.

   • 2024 June 5, Carly Heffernan, “What Even is Freshmanitis?”, in The Port Press‎^[3]:

     However, I feel like freshmanitis isn’t a unique phenomenon as much as it is just a new word for a ubiquitous feeling.