trainer

noun

train·​er ˈtrā-nər How to pronounce trainer (audio)
plural trainers
Synonyms of trainernext
1
: a person who trains someone or something: such as
a
: someone who oversees the training of people in a specific discipline
When we run the track, Stan Ward, a boxing and conditioning trainer, times us.Bridgett Riley
especially : personal trainer
A good trainer does more than count your biceps curls: She suggests the best types of exercises for your goal … and teaches you how to do the moves correctly. Sarah Bowen Shea
b
: one who oversees the training of animals
a dog/horse trainer
A trainer uses the clicker to create an auditory cue that marks a particular behavior and then rewards the dog with a treat.C. C. Holland
2
: athletic trainer
… he landed so hard that the wind was knocked out of him. He lay writhing on the ground as Herm Schneider, the team trainer, rushed to his side.William Nack
3
: something (such as a machine or vehicle) used in training see also elliptical trainer
4
chiefly British : sneaker sense 2
They wore trainers, scuffed and old, with the laces loose and the tongues protruding in defiance at the ankle.M. J. Trow

Examples of trainer in a Sentence

the boxer and his trainer She hired a personal trainer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Effective training requires understanding how their joints move and how their vision systems interpret surroundings, allowing trainers to refine control methods and improve task execution efficiency, reports PDO. Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 3 Apr. 2026 Student trainers can be found signing in their classmates, wrapping wrists and even assisting on the sidelines. Krystle Rich, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 Given Joe’s career as a personal trainer and that the couple actually happened to meet at the gym, the groom wanted to arrange a workout the morning of the wedding. Kaitlin Menza, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Apr. 2026 But Rodón will travel to see team trainers in New York before Friday’s home opener. Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for trainer

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trainer was in 1543

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trainer. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

trainer

noun
train·​er ˈtrān-ər How to pronounce trainer (audio)
1
: one that trains
2
: a person who treats the minor ailments and injuries of the members of an athletic team

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