apprentice

American  

[uh-pren-tis] / əˈprɛn tɪs /

noun

1. a person who works for another in order to learn a trade.

   an apprentice to a plumber.

2. History/Historical. a person legally bound through indenture to a master craftsman in order to learn a trade.

3. a learner; novice; tyro.

4. U.S. Navy. an enlisted person receiving specialized training.

5. a jockey with less than one year's experience who has won fewer than 40 races.

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verb (used with object)

apprentices, present (3rd person singular) apprenticed, past participle, past apprenticing present participle

1. to bind to or place with an employer, master craftsman, or the like, for instruction in a trade.

verb (used without object)

apprentices, present (3rd person singular) apprenticed, past participle, past apprenticing present participle

1. to serve as an apprentice.

   He apprenticed for 14 years under a master silversmith.

apprentice British  

/ əˈprɛntɪs /

noun

1. someone who works for a skilled or qualified person in order to learn a trade or profession, esp for a recognized period

2. any beginner or novice

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verb

1. (tr) to take, place, or bind as an apprentice

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• apprenticeship
  noun
• unapprenticed
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have apprenticed
  perfect
• has apprenticed
  perfect 3rd person singular
• is apprenticing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are apprenticing
  progressive
• have been apprenticing
  perfect progressive
• am apprenticing
  progressive 1st person singular
• apprentices
  singular 3rd person
• has been apprenticing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• apprenticing
  participle

Past

• had apprenticed
  perfect
• were apprenticing
  progressive plural
• had been apprenticing
  perfect progressive
• was apprenticing
  progressive singular
• apprenticed
  simple
• apprenticed
  participle

Future

• will apprentice
  simple
• will have apprenticed
  perfect
• will be apprenticing
  progressive
• will have been apprenticing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of apprentice

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ap(p)rentis, from Anglo-French, Old French ap(p)rentiz, from unattested Vulgar Latin apprenditīcius, equivalent to unattested apprendit(us) (for Latin apprehēnsus; see apprehensible) + Latin -īcius suffix forming adjectives from past participles, here nominalized

Explanation

An apprentice is someone who learns a trade. An apprentice farmer is paid very little but has the chance to learn farming by watching and doing. In the old days, becoming an apprentice was the only way to get into many lines of work. Nowadays we think of it more in terms of trades — butchers, bakers, bricklayers, etc. If you do the same thing in an office setting, it's usually called an internship, but the idea is the same — learning by watching an expert. The word can be used as either a noun or verb: You are an apprentice, but you also can apprentice to the barber down the street.

Example Sentences

When she was 18, she landed a job as an apprentice film librarian at the Sandler Film Library in Hollywood.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Mel Parry was an 18-year-old apprentice photographer with the Merthyr Express newspaper when he found himself in the south Wales village on his way to work.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

In Greater London, a female Trading Standards apprentice, who asked to remain anonymous, told us she had no idea her role would be so dangerous.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

According to a biography of Woods published in 1887, he attended school until about the age of 10, learning basic reading, writing and arithmetic, before leaving to apprentice in blacksmithing and machining.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

Already he was miserably regretting his rudeness to the young apprentice, who he knew had meant no harm.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

Related Words

• pupil