apprenticeship

noun

ap·​pren·​tice·​ship ə-ˈpren-tə(sh)-ˌship How to pronounce apprenticeship (audio)
ə-ˈpren-təs-ˌship
Synonyms of apprenticeshipnext
1
: a position as an apprentice : an arrangement in which someone learns an art, trade, or job under another
He obtained an apprenticeship with a carpenter.
Later that year, he decided to become a barrister—a career that requires acceptance into an apprenticeshipSidney Blumenthal
2
: the period of time when a person is an apprentice
During most of his apprenticeship he lived in Paris …Robert Penn Warren
a two-year apprenticeship

Examples of apprenticeship in a Sentence

only after long apprenticeship as a camera operator was he appointed director of photography on a major motion picture
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.
In a kind of apprenticeship system, Harris first worked as a spotter, then graduated to driving slammer cars. Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 In a statement to the Post-Tribune on the economic impact of the lockout, NIPSCO spokesman Eric Hardgrove said the company has offered lineworkers a 9% salary increase, new parental level benefit, and more promotional opportunities and apprenticeship programs. Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026 After adding artificial intelligence into the mix, many families are seeking alternatives to college like trade schools or apprenticeships—with some 70% of teenagers reporting their parents now support such a shift. Preston Fore, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2026 Disciplined, hardy, and calculating, the Chinese leader is the product of a tough apprenticeship. Michael Sheridan, Vanity Fair, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for apprenticeship

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of apprenticeship was in 1592

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Apprenticeship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apprenticeship. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

apprenticeship

noun
ap·​pren·​tice·​ship
ə-ˈprent-əs-ˌship
1
: service as an apprentice
2
: the period during which a person serves as an apprentice

More from Merriam-Webster on apprenticeship

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster