trainer

noun

train·​er ˈtrā-nər 

plural trainers

1

: a person who trains someone or something: such as

a

: someone who oversees the training of people in a specific discipline

When we run the track, Stan Ward, a boxing and conditioning trainer, times us.

—Bridgett Riley

especially : personal trainer

A good trainer does more than count your biceps curls: She suggests the best types of exercises for your goal … and teaches you how to do the moves correctly.

—Sarah Bowen Shea

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

: athletic trainer

… 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

Synonyms of trainer

• coach
• manager

Examples of trainer in a Sentence

the boxer and his trainer

She hired a personal trainer.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rob Carr / Getty Images Before starting her stable, DeVaux climbed her way up the ranks, beginning as a stable worker for the late Chuck Simon before becoming an assistant trainer for Chad Brown. —Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 3 May 2026

The annual Run for the Roses on Saturday was a historic moment for women in horse racing as Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby. —Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 3 May 2026

Great White’s trainer, John Ennis, confirmed to The Associated Press that the big gray gelding and jockey Alex Achard were fine. —Stephen Whyno, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026

DeVaux spent six years working under the late trainer Chuck Simon, and another eight years as an assistant to trainer Chad Brown. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing trainer

• athletic trainer
• cross-trainer
• elliptical trainer
• personal trainer

Rhymes for trainer

• gainer
• plainer
• planar
• planer
• saner
• stainer
• strainer
• abstainer
• campaigner
• complainer
• container
• coplanar

Kids 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