professed

[ pruh-fest ]

adjective

1. avowed; acknowledged.
2. professing to be qualified; professional, rather than amateur.
3. having taken the vows of, or been received into, a religious order.
4. alleged; pretended.

professed

/ prəˈfɛst; prəˈfɛsɪdlɪ /

adjective

1. avowed or acknowledged
2. alleged or pretended
3. professing to be qualified as

   a professed philosopher

4. having taken vows of a religious order

Derived Forms

• professedly, adverb

Other Words From

• half-pro·fessed adjective
• nonpro·fessed adjective
• self-pro·fessed adjective
• unpro·fessed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of professed¹

1300–50; Middle English (in religious sense) < Medieval Latin profess ( us ) (special use of Latin professus, past participle of profitērī to declare publicly, equivalent to pro- pro- ¹ + -fet-, combining form of fatērī to acknowledge + -tus past participle suffix, with tt > ss ) + -ed ²

Example Sentences

Joe Biden and John McCain professed undying love and loyalty for each other, even though, as Biden noted, “I drive him crazy.”

From The Daily Beast

As a professed bi-sexual, Evans is misunderstood by those who find her choices offensive.

From The Daily Beast

And by the way, if we really are just a colony of Europe, where did the rock and roll she professed to love so much come from?

From The Daily Beast

And yet, we witness professed Christians like Paul Ryan putting forward budgets that would eviscerate our common safety net.

From The Daily Beast

After all, both were in the 1930s, both involved kids wearing uniforms, both movements professed the goal of social uplift.

From The Daily Beast

He professed both to abominate and despise all mystery, refinement, and intrigue, either in a prince or a minister.

From Project Gutenberg

My mother opposed her vow to his; not to suffer her child to leave her, till the time of her being professed.

From Project Gutenberg

Hence, in their professed attempt to aid the memory, they really impose a new and additional burden upon it.

From Project Gutenberg

He repudiated his oath at Carlisle as extorted by force and intimidation, and professed a compelling sense of patriotism.

From Project Gutenberg

They professed a decided preference for nullifying the Stamp Act without violating it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• stated