plural trainers
1
: a person who trains someone or something: such as
a
: someone who oversees the training of people in a specific discipline
When we run the track, Stan Ward, a boxing and conditioning trainer, times us.—Bridgett Riley
especially
: personal trainer
A good trainer does more than count your biceps curls: She suggests the best types of exercises for your goal … and teaches you how to do the moves correctly. —Sarah Bowen Shea
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
: athletic trainer
… 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
Cite this Entry
“Trainer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trainer. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.
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