electrician

American  

[ih-lek-trish-uhn, ee-lek-] / ɪ lɛkˈtrɪʃ ən, ˌi lɛk- /

noun

electricians plural

1. a person who installs, operates, maintains, or repairs electric devices or electrical wiring.

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electrician British  

/ ˌiːlɛk-, ɪlɛkˈtrɪʃən /

noun

1. a person whose occupation is the installation, maintenance, and repair of electrical devices

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• electricians
  plural

Etymology

Origin of electrician

An Americanism dating back to 1745–55; electric + -ian

Explanation

An electrician is a person whose job involves fixing or installing electrical wiring systems. If you keep blowing fuses in your kitchen, you may need to hire an electrician to fix your house's wiring. While electricians also work on airplanes, ships, and various kinds of machines, most electricians do their job in houses and buildings that are wired for electricity to run lights, appliances, computers, and other gadgets. To work as an electrician, you need to be trained and licensed, which is especially important because of how dangerous electricity can be. In the 18th century, electricians were "scientists concerned with electricity," but by the late 1800s they were "electrical technicians."

Example Sentences

He subsequently enrolled at Apex Technical School in Manhattan to train as an electrician and hasn't looked back.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

Thierry, an electrician in south-west France, said he was overwhelmed by requests for "emergency" air-conditioning installations.

From Barron's • Jun. 23, 2026

He is an electrician and works above ground, which makes his job less risky than those who venture into the mines.

From BBC • May 31, 2026

Jack Hudson, a 20-year-old electrician, says he wants the UK to be a country where "everyone gets along with each other".

From BBC • May 17, 2026

He visited a man he'd met in Michigan many years before, an electrician who had since moved to Washington.

From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow