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trainee

/ˈtreɪˌni/
/treɪˈni/
IPA guide

Other forms: trainees

If you're a trainee, you're being taught to do a new job. If you're hired at your local grocery store, you'll likely spend some time as a trainee before you're allowed to work the cash register on your own.

Whenever someone goes through training, especially for a new job or skill, they can be called a trainee. If you're learning a new computer coding language, you might be a Python or Java trainee. And if you're in your first week at a coffee shop job, you're probably still a barista trainee. Trainee dates back to the mid-19th century, from the verb train, "instruct."

Definitions of trainee
  1. noun
    someone who is being trained
    see moresee less
    types:
    cadet, plebe
    a military trainee (as at a military academy)
    midshipman
    a temporary rank held by young naval officers in training
    type of:
    beginner, initiate, novice, tiro, tyro
    someone new to a field or activity
Pronunciation
US
/ˈtreɪˌni/
UK
/treɪˈni/
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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘trainee'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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