apprenticeship

American  

[uh-pren-tis-ship] / əˈprɛn tɪsˌʃɪp /

noun

• apprenticeships
  plural

1. a program or position in which someone learns a trade by working under a certified expert.

   The course provides students with a good base for securing apprenticeships in the plumbing and gasfitting industries.

2. the state or position of any learner or novice.

   His apprenticeship in political struggle was gained in the Spanish Civil War.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• apprenticeships
  plural

Etymology

Origin of apprenticeship

apprentice ( def. ) + -ship ( def. )

Explanation

Apprenticeship is a kind of job training that involves following and studying a master of the trade on the job instead of in school. Carpenters, masons, doctors, and many other professionals often learn their trade through apprenticeship. The word apprenticeship comes from the Old French aprentiz meaning "someone learning" and the Anglian suffix -scip, meaning "state, condition of being." An apprenticeship is when someone is in a state or condition of learning from a master in a field. Some professions even have apprenticeship programs like the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers where you can be assigned to apprentice, or study under a professional electrician.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

apprenticeship apprenticeships

At age 12, Martínez Celaya entered into an apprenticeship with a painter — the start of his formal artistic training — and around the same time he began cultivating an interest in writing and philosophy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

An actor's voice "is the result of years of rigorous training and apprenticeship" to hone talent, Yuko Sasaki, executive director of the Japan Actors Union, told AFP ahead of the ruling.

From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026

An actor's voice "is the result of years of rigorous training and apprenticeship" to hone talent, Yuko Sasaki, executive director of the Japan Actors Union, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

"The cost of a bus or tram journey should never be what stops a young person getting to college, taking up an apprenticeship, joining a sports club or simply spending time with friends," she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

I was only a year into my apprenticeship when the ghetto was formed.

From "What the Night Sings" by Vesper Stamper

I want to dramatically expand paid internships, apprenticeships and partnerships with employers and organized labor.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

All colleges should partner with labor and employers to offer apprenticeships and “family-sustaining union careers,” he said, and the district should expand dual enrollment to allow more high school students to earn college credit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

He announced the expansion of a Local Apprenticeships Service for mayors in England, which he said would deliver thousands more apprenticeships for young people.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

The presenter has also been a vocal supporter of training programmes and apprenticeships to help young people into employment.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Most students spend at least three or four terms finishing their apprenticeships.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• culture
• discipline
• improvement
• information
• learning
• literacy
• scholarship
• schooling
• science
• study
• teaching
• training