preceptor
Americannoun
-
preceptors
plural
-
an instructor; teacher; tutor.
-
the head of a school.
-
the head of a preceptory.
noun
-
a practising physician giving practical training to a medical student
-
the head of a preceptory
-
rare a tutor or instructor
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
preceptoratenoun
-
preceptorshipnoun
-
preceptressnoun
-
subpreceptornoun
-
subpreceptoratenoun
-
preceptoraladjective
-
preceptorialadjective
-
subpreceptoraladjective
-
subpreceptorialadjective
-
preceptoriallyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of preceptor
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word praeceptor. See precept, -tor
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Clark also told the instructor that "you are not going to treat me that way" and "you are the worst preceptor I have ever had."
From Fox News ● Aug. 9, 2021
In hospitals, my colleagues and I have found that creating a nurse preceptor role — a professional whose job is to help other nurses — facilitates help-seeking.
From New York Times ● Mar. 19, 2020
Mother wit came to the rescue in the person of Anicetus the freedman, preceptor of Nero’s boyish years, and detested by Agrippina with a vigour which was reciprocated.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2019
More recently, Rosa worked as a training captain, leading new firefighters through the academy, and a paramedic preceptor.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2018
I struck up a pretty minuet and watched through my sliver of the doorway as they all entered, my preceptor among them, and sat around the table.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Nataly Degante and Mayra Vargas, who graduated in 2023, have begun working as preceptors — practitioners who supervise interns or students during clinical trainings — at organizations in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 6, 2026
"As an educator, Jutta nurtured many students, preceptors and clinicians to flourish and grow. That her work continues to enrich the tapestry of occupational therapy in Alberta is her legacy," the statement continued.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2025
"So we've been having conversations with the training partners that we work with about their staffing needs, and talking about how we can increase capacity, staffing their clinics with our preceptors," Hunt said.
From Salon ● May 7, 2022
Administrators said they would like to see more financial incentives such as tax breaks for instructors and preceptors.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 14, 2021
Under the guidance of my new preceptors I entered with the greatest diligence into the search of the philosopher’s stone and the elixir of life; but the latter soon obtained my undivided attention.
From "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
