trainer

noun

train·​er ˈtrā-nər How to pronounce trainer (audio)
1
: a person who trains someone or something: such as
a
: one whose occupation is to guide or instruct people in fitness and exercise routines
a personal trainer
When we run the track, Stan Ward, a boxing and conditioning trainer, times us.Bridgett Riley
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
: a person who treats the ailments and minor injuries of the members of an athletic team
… 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.
Morant hit the floor hard and stayed down for several minutes while being looked at by team trainers. William Guillory, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2025 Diaz then left the game with trainer Joe Golia, a scary sight for the 36,863 fans in attendance. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 23 Apr. 2025 Try it with: A black maxi in jersey, a boxy T-shirt, tube socks, and classic trainers Style tip: Layer a lightweight cardigan or a hoodie at the waist to play with proportion. Ruhama Wolle, Glamour, 23 Apr. 2025 But Machold offers compelling details about how India tried to adopt these technologies of governance, using Israeli trainers for its own counterterrorism units, for instance. Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Trainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trainer. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on trainer

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