professional

[pruh-fesh-uh-nl]

adjective

1. following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain.

   a professional builder.

2. of, relating to, or connected with a profession.

   professional studies.

3. appropriate to a profession.

   professional objectivity.

4. engaged in one of the learned professions.

   A lawyer is a professional person.

5. following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime.

   a professional golfer.

6. making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business.

   “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”

7. undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain.

   professional baseball.

8. of or for a professional person or their place of business or work.

   a professional apartment; professional equipment.

9. done by an expert.

   professional car repairs.

noun

1. a person who belongs to one of the professions, especially one of the learned professions.

2. a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs.

   a golf professional.

3. an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.

4. a person who is expert at some kind of work.

   You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

professional

/ prəˈfɛʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, suitable for, or engaged in as a profession

2. engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood

3. 1. extremely competent in a job, etc

   2. (of a piece of work or anything performed) produced with competence or skill

4. undertaken or performed for gain or by people who are paid

noun

1. a person who belongs to or engages in one of the professions

2. a person who engages for his livelihood in some activity also pursued by amateurs

3. a person who engages in an activity with great competence

4. an expert player of a game who gives instruction, esp to members of a club by whom he is hired

Other Word Forms

• professionally adverb
• interprofessional adjective
• pseudoprofessional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of professional¹

First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Organisers of the year's first Grand Slam tournament announced the 'Million Dollar One Point Slam' on Tuesday, which will pit 10 amateur players against 22 professionals.

From BBC

Last year more than 100 professional female footballers signed a letter calling on Fifa to end its sponsorship deal with Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco, accusing the national authorities of "brutal human rights violations".

From BBC

Little Village, which has hubs in Camden, Wandsworth, Brent, Hackney and Hounslow, receives referrals to its services from local community professionals, such as midwives, who come across families in need.

From BBC

Raja Jackson — the son of former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton “Rampage” Jackson — will face criminal charges for delivering a bloody beatdown to a professional wrestler in Los Angeles earlier this year, authorities said Monday.

From Los Angeles Times

After filling in the online form, Judy was invited to a photoshoot in Manchester and was asked to pay £200 for five professional images that would supposedly be shared with modelling agencies.

From BBC

Related Words

• competent 
• efficient 
• experienced 
• licensed www.thesaurus.com
• qualified 
• skillful