apprentice

1 of 2

noun

ap·​pren·​tice ə-ˈpren-təs 

often attributive

1

a

: one bound by indenture (see indenture entry 1 sense 1a(3)) to serve another for a prescribed period with a view to learning an art or trade

b

: one who is learning by practical experience under skilled workers a trade, art, or calling

a carpenter's apprentice

compare journeyman sense 1, master entry 1 sense 1c

2

: an inexperienced person : novice

an apprentice in cooking

apprentice

2 of 2

verb

apprenticed; apprenticing

transitive verb

: to set at work as an apprentice

especially : to bind to an apprenticeship by contract or indenture

intransitive verb

: to serve as an apprentice

Synonyms

Noun

• adjunct
• adjutant
• aid
• aide
• assistant
• coadjutor
• deputy
• helper
• helpmate
• helpmeet
• lieutenant
• mate
• sidekick

Examples of apprentice in a Sentence

Noun

decided to be an apprentice to an electrician after he graduated

aware that she's only an apprentice in the medical field, she readily defers to her more experienced colleagues

Verb

He apprenticed with a master carpenter for two years.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The facility has an on-site training school, which welcomes groups of 10 apprentices at a time and also provides on-the-job training for existing employees, who are 82 percent female and range in age from 18 to 65. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 2 Apr. 2025

No poaching, only growing Earlier this month, Villasenor started working as a technician apprentice at Gene Butman Ford in Ypsilanti, Michigan. —Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2025

Verb

Rather than attending law school, the reality star, who never graduated college, followed a path only California and three other U.S. states offer to qualify for the bar by apprenticing with a practicing lawyer or judge. —Liza Esquibias, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Baik worked for years in New York at Eleven Madison Park and Chef’s Table, and apprenticed under Nozomu Abe of Sushi Noz. —Ryma Chikhoune, WWD, 21 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English aprentis, from Anglo-French apprentiz, from aprendre to learn, from Latin apprendere, apprehendere — see apprehend

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing apprentice

• seaman apprentice

Rhymes for apprentice

• momentous
• placentas
• portentous
• filamentous
• ligamentous
• mentis
• prentice

Kids Definition

apprentice

1 of 2 noun

ap·​pren·​tice ə-ˈprent-əs 

: a person who is learning a trade or art by experience under a skilled worker

apprentice

2 of 2 verb

apprenticed; apprenticing

: to set at work as an apprentice