NYT Dictionary

TYRO

/ˈtaɪɹoʊ/
NounTY-roty-ro · 2 syllablesCollege

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026

Meaning

A beginner; a novice.

Etymology

Origin: Latin

Learned borrowing from Medieval Latin tyro, and from its etymon Latin tīrō (“beginner, novice; young apprentice; (Roman military) recruit”); further etymology unknown, possibly from an unattested Etruscan word.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

tyroneabecedarianalphabetarianapprenticeamateurbeginnerbuncoltfirst-timerfledgling

NYT Puzzle Appearances

Accepted in 9 recorded puzzles:

Join the Spelling Bee Community

Get solving strategies, rare word lists, and puzzle tips in your inbox every week.