trainer

noun

train·​er ˈtrā-nər How to pronounce trainer (audio)
1
: a person who trains someone or something: such as
a
: one whose occupation is to guide or instruct people in fitness and exercise routines
a personal trainer
When we run the track, Stan Ward, a boxing and conditioning trainer, times us.Bridgett Riley
b
: one who oversees the training of animals
a dog/horse trainer
A trainer uses the clicker to create an auditory cue that marks a particular behavior and then rewards the dog with a treat.C. C. Holland
2
: a person who treats the ailments and minor injuries of the members of an athletic team
… he landed so hard that the wind was knocked out of him. He lay writhing on the ground as Herm Schneider, the team trainer, rushed to his side.William Nack
3
: something (such as a machine or vehicle) used in training see also elliptical trainer
4
chiefly British : sneaker sense 2
They wore trainers, scuffed and old, with the laces loose and the tongues protruding in defiance at the ankle.M. J. Trow

Examples of trainer in a Sentence

the boxer and his trainer She hired a personal trainer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Andrew gave up baseball, got a degree in health fitness, and earned a good living as a trainer in Atlanta. Paul Solotaroff, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2025 Players on the field immediately motioned to the sideline for trainers and Warner’s right leg was in an aircast as he was carted off. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025 Claudie plans to build on its bestselling Swing trainer will anchor a bigger move into accessories. Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 That means the boot camp — led by vocal coaches, renowned producers, fitness trainers and star choreographers — will go beyond the fundamental basics of singing and dancing by including mental health care, physical wellness, media training and global studies. Griselda Flores, Billboard, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for trainer

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of trainer was in 1543

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trainer. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

trainer

noun
train·​er ˈtrān-ər How to pronounce trainer (audio)
1
: one that trains
2
: a person who treats the minor ailments and injuries of the members of an athletic team

More from Merriam-Webster on trainer

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!