instructor
ihn-STRUHKT
Instructor (noun) means a person who teaches a particular skill or subject, especially a practical one. Example: “The swimming instructor showed the beginners how to float on their backs.”
noun
1
A person who teaches a particular skill or subject, especially a practical one.
"The swimming instructor showed the beginners how to float on their backs."
"Her driving instructor was patient and encouraging."
"The gym hired a new fitness instructor last week."
How to use instructor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA teacher, most often for hands-on or skills-based subjects like driving, sports, or the military.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
flight instructor
yoga instructor
driving instructor
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Word forms
- Plural
- instructors
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Can you complete this real example?
The swimming _____ showed the beginners how to float on their backs.
Etymology
From Latin instructor — equivalent to instruct + -or.
Related words
Rhymes for instructor
See all rhymes for instructor →Frequently asked questions
What does “instructor” mean?
The word “instructor” means a person who teaches a particular skill or subject, especially a practical one. In plain terms, a teacher, most often for hands-on or skills-based subjects like driving, sports, or the military.
How do you pronounce “instructor”?
“Instructor” is pronounced ihn-STRUHKT (/ɪnˈstɹʌktɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “instructor” in a sentence?
Here is “instructor” used in a sentence: “Her driving instructor was patient and encouraging.”
What part of speech is “instructor”?
“Instructor” is a noun.
Where does the word “instructor” come from?
The word “instructor” comes from Latin. From Latin instructor — equivalent to instruct + -or.
Is “instructor” a common word?
“Instructor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between an instructor and a teacher?
A teacher is the general word for someone who educates others, especially in schools, while an instructor usually teaches a particular practical skill, as in a driving instructor or fitness instructor. Instructor puts the emphasis on hands-on training in a specific activity.
What is the difference between an instructor and a professor?
In North American universities, professor is a senior academic rank, while instructor typically designates someone hired mainly to teach, often at entry level and without a professorial title. Outside academia, instructor simply means anyone who teaches a practical skill.
When should you use instructor instead of coach or trainer?
Use instructor for someone formally teaching a skill or subject, coach for someone guiding performance and improvement over time, especially in sport, and trainer for someone leading physical conditioning or workplace training. The roles overlap, but instructor stresses structured teaching.
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