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
The former trainer died in prison while serving his sentence in November 2024.
—Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
The biopic stars Ben Foster as the trainer who becomes her abusive husband.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery is located within Seattle's Museum of Flight, and the showstopper here is the NASA Full Fuselage Trainer—a full-size trainer mockup once used to prepare every shuttle astronaut for the rigors of space travel.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
That expense, almost $43,000 a year, would account for roughly a third or more of their household income — and that's before even using the insurance, said Thompson, 49, who is a ceramic artist and physical trainer.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 8 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for trainer
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Ralphie Aversa, USA Today, 9 Nov. 2025
The biopic stars Ben Foster as the trainer who becomes her abusive husband.
—Pamela McClintock, HollywoodReporter, 8 Nov. 2025
The Charles Simonyi Space Gallery is located within Seattle's Museum of Flight, and the showstopper here is the NASA Full Fuselage Trainer—a full-size trainer mockup once used to prepare every shuttle astronaut for the rigors of space travel.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 8 Nov. 2025
That expense, almost $43,000 a year, would account for roughly a third or more of their household income — and that's before even using the insurance, said Thompson, 49, who is a ceramic artist and physical trainer.
—Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 8 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 17 Nov. 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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