apprenticeship

noun

ap·​pren·​tice·​ship ə-ˈpren-tə(sh)-ˌship 

ə-ˈpren-təs-ˌship

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 apprenticeship …

—Sidney 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

Synonyms of apprenticeship

• internship
• training

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

Intel launched its apprenticeship program in Arizona in 2024 and committed $50 million in scholarships at more than 80 Ohio institutions near its fab under construction there. — Katie Tarasov, CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026

Once in the capital, Abidjan, Pathé’O took an apprenticeship with a Senegalese designer, learning how to tailor clothing while teaching himself new techniques. — Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026

Create clear checkpoints throughout the apprenticeship process. — Matthew Darienzo, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Those stark early images scored him apprenticeships with prominent photographer Howell Conant and commercial photographer Lee Michaels. — Stephen Rodrick, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for apprenticeship

• associateship
• bipartisanship
• conservatorship
• distributorship
• proprietorship
• secretaryship
• airship
• airstrip
• clerkship
• courtship
• equip
• filmstrip

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