practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tion·​er prak-ˈti-sh(ə-)nər 

1

: one who practices

especially : one who practices a profession

2

Christian Science : an authorized healer

Synonyms

• exponent
• interpreter

Examples of practitioner in a Sentence

a French doctor who was once the most famous practitioner of natural childbirth

Recent Examples on the Web

This is a monthly recurring series with different themes and practitioners leading. —American Booksellers Association, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025

Klein described Kirk as a practitioner of persuasion—a fierce ideological opponent but one who still played by the rules. —Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Organizations can also play a key role by educating practitioners and promoting operational standards, similar to how the International Hyperbarics Association does with HBOT. —Lindsay O'Neill, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Some practitioners discard it immediately, often at a crossroads, while others crack it into a glass of water to interpret what remains. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 10 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier practician, from Middle English (Scots) pratician, from Middle French practicien, from pratique practice

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing practitioner

• family practitioner
• general practitioner
• medical practitioner
• nurse practitioner

Rhymes for practitioner

• commissioner
• conditioner
• parishioner
• petitioner
• positioner
• missioner

Kids Definition

practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tio·​ner

prak-ˈtish-(ə-)nər

: a person who practices a profession and especially law or medicine

Medical Definition

practitioner

noun

prac·​ti·​tion·​er prak-ˈtish-(ə-)nər 

: one who practices a profession and especially medicine