someone who is being trained
"The new trainee arrived at the workshop eager to learn the skills of a professional chef."
Someone who is still in the process of being formally trained in a workplace.
"The new trainee spent his first week shadowing senior staff before taking on independent tasks."
In plain English: A trainee is someone who is learning how to do a job by working under supervision before they are fully qualified.
"The new trainee asked to see a copy of his schedule for tomorrow morning."
Usage: Use trainee to describe an employee currently undergoing formal instruction or probationary training within their role, distinguishing them from someone already fully qualified. This term applies specifically to individuals learning job skills under supervision rather than those seeking initial employment without prior experience.
The word trainee is formed by adding the suffix -ee, which indicates a person who receives an action, to the verb train. This construction highlights that a trainee is someone undergoing training rather than performing it themselves.