practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tion·​er prak-ˈti-sh(ə-)nər 

1

: one who practices

especially : one who practices a profession

2

Christian Science : an authorized healer

Synonyms

• exponent
• expounder
• guru
• high priest
• interpreter

Examples of practitioner in a Sentence

a French doctor who was once the most famous practitioner of natural childbirth

Recent Examples on the Web

Brittany Piper, a 36-year-old Somatic Experiencing® practitioner and author of Body-First Healing, has sparked widespread discussion online with her viral video dissecting why our lives today seem to be overwhelming the human nervous system. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 June 2025

As chair of the firm’s National Security Practice, Rod leads a team of former US government officials, former prosecutors, trade practitioners, and data privacy and cyber lawyers. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

The event features fitness studios, wellness practitioners and wellness products. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025

In issues of mental health, practitioners carry a huge weight of responsibility and, in the best cases, work in partnership with their patients, a dynamic that simply cannot exist between human and technology. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025

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

Phrases Containing practitioner

• family practitioner
• general practitioner
• medical practitioner
• nurse practitioner

Rhymes for practitioner

• commissioner
• conditioner
• parishioner
• petitioner
• positioner
• missioner

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 

: one who practices a profession and especially medicine