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Synonyms

trainer

American  
[trey-ner] / ˈtreɪ nər /

noun

  1. a person or thing that trains.

  2. a staff member on an athletic team who gives first aid and therapy to injured players.

  3. a person who trains athletes; coach.

  4. a person who trains racehorses or other animals for contests, shows, or performances.

  5. an airplane or a simulated aircraft used in training train aircrew members, especially pilots.


trainer British  
/ ˈtreɪnə /

noun

  1. a person who trains athletes in a sport

  2. a piece of equipment employed in training, such as a simulated aircraft cockpit

  3. horse racing a person who schools racehorses and prepares them for racing

  4. (plural) an informal name for training shoes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of trainer

First recorded in 1590–1600; train + -er 1

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.

She had been working out with a trainer and thought she was eating well, but a recent bone-density scan revealed her muscle mass was lower than she expected.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Claude also calculated the maximum number of reps she should be doing in the gym and suggested other exercises, which she shared with her trainer.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

Smith, a guide dog trainer was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable lung disease, in 2019 and was medically retired from her job working with children with learning difficulties.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Betts kept an open mind when he first learned of teammate Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s unique workout routine, which includes javelin throwing, yoga, and working with personal trainer Osamu Yada.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

On Monday morning, I sat down to plan my week, scheduling massage appointments, booking sessions with my trainer, arranging lesson times with my coach.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad