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
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
C. C. Holland2
: 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
William Nack3
: 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
M. J. TrowExamples of trainer in a Sentence
the boxer and his trainer
She hired a personal trainer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Now comes the difficult part for Brown and the other trainers who shipped horses in from the East Coast for the Turf Festival.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025
Or that players need to change their approach to off-season training to account for the quick lateral movements that can lead to acute injuries, or that team trainers need to be more prophylactic and smarter about understanding the way the body compensates for instabilities.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
After making the pass, Palmieri went straight to the bench and hobbled to the locker room with the help of a trainer.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Nelson knew about the culture in the Avs locker room, both through Toews and because of his experience working with Andy O’Brien, one of the NHL’s most famous personal trainers.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trainer
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Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Dec. 2025
Or that players need to change their approach to off-season training to account for the quick lateral movements that can lead to acute injuries, or that team trainers need to be more prophylactic and smarter about understanding the way the body compensates for instabilities.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2025
After making the pass, Palmieri went straight to the bench and hobbled to the locker room with the help of a trainer.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025
Nelson knew about the culture in the Avs locker room, both through Toews and because of his experience working with Andy O’Brien, one of the NHL’s most famous personal trainers.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trainer
Cite this Entry
“Trainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trainer. Accessed 7 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
trainer
noun
train·er
ˈtrān-ər 
1
: one that trains
2
: a person who treats the minor ailments and injuries of the members of an athletic team
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