trainer

noun

train·​er ˈtrā-nər 

1

: a person who trains someone or something: such as

a

: one whose occupation is to guide or instruct people in fitness and exercise routines

a personal trainer

When we run the track, Stan Ward, a boxing and conditioning trainer, times us.

—Bridgett Riley

b

: one who oversees the training of animals

a dog/horse trainer

A trainer uses the clicker to create an auditory cue that marks a particular behavior and then rewards the dog with a treat.

—C. C. Holland

2

: a person who treats the ailments and minor injuries of the members of an athletic team

… he landed so hard that the wind was knocked out of him. He lay writhing on the ground as Herm Schneider, the team trainer, rushed to his side.

—William Nack

3

: something (such as a machine or vehicle) used in training see also elliptical trainer

4

chiefly British : sneaker sense 2

They wore trainers, scuffed and old, with the laces loose and the tongues protruding in defiance at the ankle.

—M. J. Trow

Synonyms

• coach

Examples of trainer in a Sentence

the boxer and his trainer

She hired a personal trainer.

Recent Examples on the Web

The introduction of Lululemon Glow Up will be accompanied by an exclusive two-week residency at 210 Lafayette Street in New York’s SoHo from Feb. 24 to March 9 that will bring together top celebrity trainers and influencers for an immersive fitness experience. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025

If the Silicon Valley of the 2000s and 2010s prided itself on an anti-fashion ethos—the hoodie, the New Balance trainer, the uniform of studied indifference to material possessions—then today’s tech billionaires have flipped the script. —Amy Francombe, WIRED, 11 Feb. 2025

For those after a designer sneaker, Loewe’s Flow Runner trainers are seasonless stars (the label just revamped the model) that vibe exceptionally well with Baum Und Pferfdgarten’s shimmering sequin skirt, Mango’s suede jacket, and a blue-and-white striped button-up. —Laura Jackson, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2025

Snap Decision began his career as a solid enough racehorse, running for Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey on tracks in New York and Florida. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 3 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing trainer

• athletic trainer
• cross-trainer
• elliptical trainer

Kids Definition

trainer

noun

train·​er ˈtrān-ər 

1

: one that trains

2

: a person who treats the minor ailments and injuries of the members of an athletic team