Make Your Point > Archived Issues > SOPHOMORIC
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pronounce
SOPHOMORIC:
Say it either "soff MORE ick" or, my preference, "SOFF uh MORE ick."
To hear it, click here.
connect this word to others:
With apologies to tenth graders and second-year undergrads, today's sophomoric has a pretty nasty tone.
It's cousins with the equally nasty word soph____y, meaning "illogical reasoning or arguments, usually the kind that tricks people on purpose."
Can you recall that one?
(To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.)
definition:
In four-year high schools and colleges, we often refer to the students with these terms:
First-year students are freshmen.
Second-years: sophomores.
Third-years: juniors.
Fourth-years: seniors.
That word for a second-year, "sophomore," probably came from the word "sophism," which, along with "sophistry," means "an illogical argument, usually the kind that tricks people on purpose." Those words trace back to a Greek one meaning "skilled or clever." So, "sophomore" probably literally means "a [skilled or clever] arguer."
But it's fun to note that many people believe it literally means "a wise fool," since it looks so much like the words "sophisticated" and "moron."
And apparently, some sophomores have gotten a reputation for being fools who think they're wise: for showing off what little knowledge they have, or in other words, for being overconfident yet undereducated. That's the nasty meaning of the word "sophomoric."
To put that another way, sophomoric people and things are stupid and immature in a proud, showy way that reminds you of second-year students who've mistaken themselves for geniuses.
grammatical bits:
Part of speech:
Adjective: "their sophomoric jokes;" "Their arguments are sophomoric."
Other forms:
Sophomore(s), sophomorically.
how to use it:
This word is rare, but not ultra-rare. And it's got a very judgmental tone.
You might talk about sophomoric pranks, jokes, or humor; sophomoric ideas, habits, thinking, theories, or arguments; or even sophomoric people.
examples:
"We are no longer in 2009: Mark Zuckerberg's sophomoric musings on transparency or the global village impress only very few."
— Evgeny Morozov, The Guardian, 7 September 2019
"Male friendship, to me, has never been close to what I've seen portrayed in films or on TV. Friendship goes far beyond the booze and sophomoric humor we often see in movies like 'The Hangover.'"
— Sean Quinton, Seattle Times, 27 June 2019
has this page helped you understand "sophomoric"?
study it:
Explain the meaning of "sophomoric" without saying "idiotic" or "young and foolish."
try it out:
Below, from Futurama, the ever-sophomoric Fry:
With Fry in mind as an example, talk about another sophomoric person, real or fictional. What are some of the sophomoric things this person says or does?
before you review, play:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
Our game for March is "Yup, that's a real word."
Check out the definition of a silly-sounding word--yes, a real one, from the Oxford English Dictionary--and see if you can come up with the word itself. To see the answer, scroll all the way down.
Here's an example: "This three-syllable noun ending in the -ship suffix (as in 'friendship' and 'fellowship') means 'skill in traversing snow.'" The answer is "snowmanship." (Yup, that’s a real word!)
Try this one today:
This cute two-syllable word means "inviting hugs." (Did you say "huggy"? Close!)
review this word:
A. BLUNT.
B. STRICT.
C. MATURE.
2. Teen movies in the nineties were filled with sophomoric _____, like _____.
A. characters .. Laney, the sensitive but unfashionable artist
B. bets .. whether or not you can turn a nerd into the prom queen
C. music .. the bouncy, dreamy tune "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None the Richer
a final word:
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
I'm Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words.
From my blog:
36 ways to study words.
Why we forget words, & how to remember them.
How to use sophisticated words without being awkward.
To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com.
Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes.
With apologies to tenth graders and second-year undergrads, today's sophomoric has a pretty nasty tone.
In four-year high schools and colleges, we often refer to the students with these terms:
Part of speech:
This word is rare, but not ultra-rare. And it's got a very judgmental tone.
"We are no longer in 2009: Mark Zuckerberg's sophomoric musings on transparency or the global village impress only very few."
Explain the meaning of "sophomoric" without saying "idiotic" or "young and foolish."
Below, from Futurama, the ever-sophomoric Fry:
Try to spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—first, let your working memory empty out.
I hope you're enjoying Make Your Point. It's made with love.
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