Beginners without bad habits? (7)
I believe the answer is:
novices
'beginners' is the definition.
(I know this)
'without bad habits?' is the wordplay.
'without' becomes 'no'.
'bad habits?' becomes 'vices' (I've seen this before).
'no'+'vices'='NOVICES'
(Other definitions for novices that I've seen before include "church members?" , "Tyros" , "Neophytes" , "Beginners; nuns" , "Beginners, who have not sinned?" .)