teacher
Americannoun
noun
-
a person whose occupation is teaching others, esp children
-
a personified concept that teaches
nature is a good teacher
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of teacher
First recorded in 1250–1300, teacher is from the Middle English word techer. See teach, -er 1
Compare meaning
How does teacher compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
If the guy down the street shows you how to play the guitar and helps you develop a masterful plucking style, then he's your guitar teacher. A teacher is anyone who teaches things. Schools hire people to be teachers, but you don't have to work in a school to be a teacher. You can be a teacher to your children. If you're really good at making pizza, you can be a teacher to an aspiring pizza chef. If you're really passionate about methods of education, then you can become a teacher who teaches teachers how to teach better. Whoa.
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.
For those who want to earn their associate’s or bachelor’s degrees and become a lead teacher, she encourages them to visit schools and makes the college application a part of their classwork.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Louise Moir is head teacher of Mackie Academy in Stonehaven and vice president of School Leaders Scotland.
From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026
Now that Esquivel is graduating, she will enroll at East Los Angeles College to complete the requirements necessary to become a lead teacher.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
The idea was first proposed as a millennium project by local resident David Thomas, a retired teacher and amateur astronomer who wanted to create something that would inspire learning.
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
“And you, Corrie. Will you go on to be a teacher, too?”
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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.
