# practitioner

/pɹækˈtɪʃənɝ/ (US) · /pɹæktˈɪʃənɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/practitioner
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. professional worker

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal · Academic

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

For teachers: 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.

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

### 2. someone who follows a belief

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- She has been a dedicated practitioner of yoga for over ten years.
- As a lifelong practitioner of non-violence, the leader refused to support any form of military intervention.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'of'.

## Examples

- She is a medical practitioner with ten years of experience.
- The workshop is designed for both academic researchers and legal practitioners to share their different perspectives on the new law.
- While the theory is well-documented in textbooks, the seasoned practitioner understands that real-world application often requires a more flexible and intuitive approach to problem-solving.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.