practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tion·​er prak-ˈti-sh(ə-)nər How to pronounce practitioner (audio)
1
: one who practices
especially : one who practices a profession
2
Christian Science : an authorized healer

Examples of practitioner in a Sentence

a French doctor who was once the most famous practitioner of natural childbirth
Recent Examples on the Web Through encounters with practitioners, including a veterinarian who helps track the movements of anteaters across Brazilian highways, Goldfarb charts a path toward a less destructive future. Condé Nast, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023 State boards have no jurisdiction over businesses, just individual practitioners, said Lisa Robin, chief advocacy officer at the FSMB. Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica, 2 Nov. 2023 But some of the practitioners, and that's what people who are witches call themselves practitioners, not believers, but practices. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2023 Among Schindler’s most recognizable commissions are some of his earliest residential works as a solo practitioner, including his own home in West Hollywood and the Lovell Beach House on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach. Mark David, Robb Report, 11 Nov. 2023 For thousands of years, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have relied on processes such as smell, hearing, palpation, and tongue examination for diagnoses. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2023 Maui leaders are still trying to scale up the number of available mental health practitioners, Oliver said, estimating that roughly 2,000 fire victims may need intensive counseling. Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2023 Before graphic design went digital, the posture of its practitioners was that of the historical engraver or the medieval scribe. Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 2 Nov. 2023 And then, the practitioner will prescribe a treatment plan. Jayme Cyk, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'practitioner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of practitioner was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near practitioner

Cite this Entry

“Practitioner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/practitioner. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

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 How to pronounce practitioner (audio)
: one who practices a profession and especially medicine

More from Merriam-Webster on practitioner

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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