practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tion·​er prak-ˈti-sh(ə-)nər 

1

: one who practices or is regularly engaged in a skillful activity

a yoga practitioner

practitioners of the art of glassblowing

especially : one who practices a profession

a health care practitioner

legal practitioners

2

Christian Science : an authorized healer

Synonyms of practitioner

• exponent
• interpreter

Examples of practitioner in a Sentence

a French doctor who was once the most famous practitioner of natural childbirth

Recent Examples on the Web

Thousands have attended Energy Healing Conference events in Utah, Montana and Idaho, where breathwork practitioners, Reiki masters and herbalists gather to dispense ancient wisdom. — T.m. Brown, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

The strongest outcomes emerge when that expertise is fully integrated with intensivists, advanced practitioners, respiratory therapists, and surgeons working as one coordinated team. — Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

The Miami Herald spoke with several shop owners who expressed concern about rising costs but refused to go on the record, many citing the stigma surrounding the religion and misconceptions about practitioners. — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026

In engineering, computer science, medicine and related professions, an experienced practitioner can frequently earn far more in industry than a university is prepared to pay. — Francisco Ruiz, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier practician, from Middle English (Scots) pratician, from Middle French practicien, from pratique practice

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing practitioner

• family practitioner
• general practitioner
• medical practitioner
• nurse practitioner

Rhymes for practitioner

• commissioner
• conditioner
• parishioner
• petitioner
• positioner
• missioner

Kids Definition

practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tio·​ner

prak-ˈtish-(ə-)nər

: a person who practices a profession and especially law or medicine

Medical Definition

practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tion·​er prak-ˈtish-(ə-)nər 

: one who practices a profession and especially medicine