What does "practitioner" mean?

1. (professional worker) a person who works in a job that needs special skills and training, especially in medicine or law. 2. (someone who follows a belief) someone who regularly does a specific activity or follows a particular religion or method.

How do you use "practitioner"?

Often preceded by a qualifying adjective like 'medical', 'legal', or 'general'. Usually followed by the preposition 'of'.

practitioner

US //pɹækˈtɪʃənɝ// UK //pɹæktˈɪʃənɐ// prac·ti·tion·er

1 professional worker (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal Academic

a person who works in a job that needs special skills and training, especially in medicine or law.

an individual who actively exercises a profession, particularly in the medical or legal fields. Often used to distinguish those in active practice from those in research or academia.

Example

You should consult a medical practitioner if the pain in your back continues.

Example

The conference brought together both academic researchers and legal practitioners to discuss the practical implications of the new legislation.

Usage

Often preceded by a qualifying adjective like 'medical', 'legal', or 'general'.
- layperson
- amateur
- theorist
2 someone who follows a belief (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

someone who regularly does a specific activity or follows a particular religion or method.

one who habitually performs a specific activity or adheres to the rites and practices of a religion or philosophy.

Example

She has been a dedicated practitioner of yoga for over ten years.

Example

As a lifelong practitioner of non-violence, the leader refused to support any form of military intervention.

Usage

Usually followed by the preposition 'of'.
- follower
- adherent
- user

Origin

Formerly practicioner for *practicianer, from practician + -er (the suffix unnecessarily added, as in musicianer).