apprentice

1 of 2

noun

ap·​pren·​tice ə-ˈpren-təs 

often attributive

1

a

: one bound by indenture (see indenture entry 1 sense 1a(3)) to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade

b

: one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling

a carpenter's apprentice

compare journeyman sense 1, master entry 1 sense 1c

2

: an inexperienced person : novice

an apprentice in cooking

apprentice

2 of 2

verb

apprenticed; apprenticing

transitive verb

: to set at work as an apprentice

especially : to bind to an apprenticeship by contract or indenture

intransitive verb

: to serve as an apprentice

Synonyms of apprentice

Noun

• assistant
• aide
• adjutant
• aid
• deputy
• sidekick

Examples of apprentice in a Sentence

Noun

decided to be an apprentice to an electrician after he graduated

aware that she's only an apprentice in the medical field, she readily defers to her more experienced colleagues

Verb

He apprenticed with a master carpenter for two years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Uplands annually hires seasonal cheesemaking apprentices because the farm only makes cheese while its cows are on pasture, from May through November, owner Andy Hatch said. —Kelli Arseneau, jsonline.com, 16 Jan. 2026

And the synopsis describing the premise as the New Republic hiring Din Djarin and his apprentice Grogu to take on remaining Imperial warlords threatening the galaxy doesn’t suggest anything outside of what could be a three-episode arc of the series. —Richard Newby, HollywoodReporter, 16 Jan. 2026

Verb

Celebrities in the space, such as Frank Oz, apprenticed at Fairyland, and Metz continues to run multiple shows per day, both revivals and original creations. —Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026

The skill of apprenticing Teams with a culture of apprenticeship were almost three times as likely to be high performing (40% versus 15%). —Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English aprentis, from Anglo-French apprentiz, from aprendre to learn, from Latin apprendere, apprehendere — see apprehend

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing apprentice

• seaman apprentice

Rhymes for apprentice

• momentous
• placentas
• portentous
• filamentous
• ligamentous
• mentis
• prentice

Kids Definition

apprentice

1 of 2 noun

ap·​pren·​tice ə-ˈprent-əs 

: a person who is learning a trade or art by experience under a skilled worker

apprentice

2 of 2 verb

apprenticed; apprenticing

: to set at work as an apprentice