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trainer

B2
Common

Pronunciation

UK

  • /trˈeɪnə/

US

  • /ˈtreɪnər/

Meanings

Noun

  1. a person who trains athletes or clients for sport or fitness

  2. a person whose job is to teach skills or prepare people for a task

  3. a sports shoe worn for exercise or casual use

Beyond the definition

A trainer is often someone who helps a person or an animal learn, improve, or get ready for something. You might meet a fitness trainer at a gym, a dog trainer working with a puppy, or a company trainer showing a team how to do a job better. The main idea is practice, guidance, and steady improvement over time.

In British English, the word can also mean a sports shoe, the kind Americans usually call a sneaker. So if someone says they bought new trainers, they may be talking about footwear, not a person.

Examples

  1. 1

    Sports team

    The team hired a new trainer before the season started.

  2. 2

    Fitness coaching

    My trainer changed my workout after I hurt my knee.

  3. 3

    Animal training

    She works as a dog trainer and spends most of the day outdoors.

  4. 4

    Workplace onboarding

    All new employees meet with a trainer on their first day.

More examples
  1. 5

    British footwear

    I need a new pair of trainers for the gym.

    • Usagetrainers

      sports shoes, especially in British English

  2. 6

    Informal clothing

    He turned up to the wedding in jeans and bright white trainers.

See also

Similar

Shades of meaning

Contrast

Used with (collocations)

  • personal trainer
  • fitness trainer
  • dog trainer
  • corporate trainer

Word family

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Forms and spellings

2 forms open this card.

Main spelling

  • trainernoun

Forms

  • trainerspluralnoun