English

trainee

gb/tɹˈeɪnˈi/ us/tɹˈeɪnˈi/
B1 English
~ 7300
Senses
0 senses
Noun B1 entity
1

person being trained for a job

A person who is learning to do a job or profession, usually as a new worker.

Usage pattern: a trainee [profession]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "trainee" and "trainer". Remember: a "trainee" is the learner, and a "trainer" is the person who teaches. Another mistake is using "trainee" as a verb (*"I am trainee to be a nurse"*). The correct form is "I am training to be a nurse" or "I am a trainee nurse."
Synonyms
apprentice (Often used for someone learning a skilled trade through a formal program; can sound more traditional than "trainee".) | intern (Usually a temporary trainee, often a student or recent graduate, sometimes unpaid, especially in offices or professional fields.)
Antonyms
trainer (The person who teaches or trains, the opposite role to the trainee.) | qualified worker (Someone who has already finished training and is fully able to do the job.)
Collocations
a trainee teacher |a trainee doctor |graduate trainee |management trainee |hire a trainee |take on a trainee
Themes
work |business |education |core_vocabulary
Examples
  • The company hired ten new trainees for the sales department.
  • As a trainee teacher, she spends four days a week in the classroom.
  • First-year doctors work as hospital trainees under senior supervision.
  • All new trainees must complete a three-month induction program.
  • He started as a trainee mechanic and is now the workshop manager.
Learner examples
  • She is a trainee nurse at the hospital.
  • The bank took on five new trainees this year.
  • He works as a trainee chef in a big restaurant.
  • I am a trainee engineer at a car company.
  • The trainee learns from a more experienced worker.
Grammar
Dictionary form
trainee
IPA
GB/tɹˈeɪnˈi/
US/tɹˈeɪnˈi/
Syllables & stress
train - ee (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (train)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: trainee
  • Plural: trainees
Word family
Forms
trainees noun
Core family
train verb A1 training noun trainer noun B1
Related words
trainable adjective retrain verb
Negative and opposite forms
untrained adjective untrainable adjective
Advanced or less common
retraining noun traineeship noun
Expressions

graduate trainee

1
/ɡɹˈæd͡ʒuɪt tɹˈeɪnˈi/
fixed phrase

university graduate in trainee role

A person who has just finished university and starts work in a special training program in a company.

Examples
  • She got a place on a two-year graduate trainee scheme at a major bank.
  • The company is looking for graduate trainees in engineering and finance.

management trainee

1
/mˈænɪd͡ʒmənt tɹˈeɪnˈi/
fixed phrase

trainee preparing for management

A person who is learning to be a manager in a company, usually in a special program for new graduates or new staff.

Examples
  • After university he joined a large hotel chain as a management trainee.
  • Our management trainees rotate through different departments in their first year.

trainee accountant

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi əkˈaʊntənt/
fixed phrase

person training to be accountant

Someone who works in an accounting job while studying to become a fully qualified accountant.

Examples
  • She is a trainee accountant at a big international firm.
  • Many trainee accountants study for exams in the evenings.

trainee chef

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi ʃˈɛf/
fixed phrase

person training to be chef

Someone who works in a kitchen and is learning to be a professional cook.

Examples
  • The trainee chef prepared the vegetables while the head chef cooked the main dishes.
  • Many trainee chefs start by doing simple jobs like cleaning and cutting food.

trainee doctor

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi dˈɑktɚ/
fixed phrase

doctor still in medical training

A doctor who has finished medical school but is still learning under supervision in a hospital or clinic.

Examples
  • The hospital has many trainee doctors working in the emergency department.
  • She first met her husband when they were both trainee doctors in London.

trainee manager

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi mˈænɪd͡ʒɚ/
fixed phrase

person training to be manager

Someone who is learning to be a manager in a shop, restaurant, hotel, or other business.

Examples
  • He started as a trainee manager in a fast-food chain.
  • The company promotes many of its trainee managers to store manager within two years.

trainee nurse

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi nˈɚs/
fixed phrase

person training to be a nurse

Someone who is learning to be a nurse and has not finished their training yet.

Examples
  • The trainee nurse carefully followed the instructions of the senior nurse.
  • Many trainee nurses work night shifts as part of their training.

trainee pilot

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi pˈaɪlət/
fixed phrase

person training to fly aircraft

Someone who is learning to fly planes but is not a fully licensed pilot yet.

Examples
  • He moved to the US to work as a trainee pilot with a regional airline.
  • Trainee pilots must complete many hours of flight practice.

trainee solicitor

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi səlˈɪsətɚ/
fixed phrase

person training to be solicitor

Someone who works in a law firm and is learning to become a fully qualified solicitor, especially in British English.

Examples
  • As a trainee solicitor, she rotates between different departments of the law firm.
  • The firm offers a high salary to attract good trainee solicitors.

trainee teacher

1
/tɹˈeɪnˈi tˈit͡ʃɚ/
fixed phrase

person training to be a teacher

Someone who is learning how to be a school teacher and has not finished their training yet.

Examples
  • As a trainee teacher, he spends two days a week at college and three days at a school.
  • The school offers extra support to all trainee teachers in their first term.

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