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 The discursive shifts those movements brought about have manifested themselves in actual policy; those and other protest movements have moreover trained and elevated a generation of progressive leaders who have made an impact as both activists and practitioners of formal politics. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 20 Sep. 2023 The idea behind it was to stimulate public interest and connect religious seekers and practitioners with Buddhist teachings. Pauline Hope Cheong, The Conversation, 19 Sep. 2023 Pedagogical innovations, experienced practitioners from Singapore and a rich pool of Asian case studies enhance the classroom experience. Foreign Affairs, 14 Sep. 2023 Shipments of buprenorphine to pharmacies and practitioners rose significantly as public health officials stressed its importance in curbing the addiction crisis - from 42 million doses in 2006 to 577 million in 2019. David Ovalle, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2023 Shipments of buprenorphine to pharmacies and practitioners rose significantly as public health officials stressed its importance in curbing the addiction crisis — from 42 million doses in 2006 to 577 million in 2019. David Ovalle, Washington Post, 12 Sep. 2023 But Biden has been an inconsistent practitioner of the masking protocol. Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 8 Sep. 2023 Meet the experts: Gabrielle Lyon, DO, is a functional medicine practitioner, WH advisor, and the founder of Muscle-Centric Medicine and author of Forever Strong. Addison Aloian, Women's Health, 5 Sep. 2023 Alana was even referred to a conversion therapist who was formerly on the board of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, the largest clinical network of conversion therapy practitioners, Fung says. Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 31 Aug. 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 3 Oct. 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

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