From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcomparative beginner/newcomer etccomparative beginner/newcomer etcCOMPAREsomeone who is not really a beginner etc, but who seems to be one when compared to other people who have lived or worked somewhere for a long time After living here five years, we’re still considered comparative newcomers. → comparative
Examples from the Corpus
comparative beginner/newcomer etc• A word of advice - don't sit for hours at the knitting machine, particularly if you are a comparative beginner.• The fishing and fish-processing industry in North Shields is a comparative newcomer. 