amateur

[am-uh-choor, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur]

noun

1. a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.

2. an athlete who has never competed for payment or for a monetary prize.

   Synonyms: nonprofessional

3. a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity.

   Hunting lions is not for amateurs.

   Synonyms: novice, tyro, dilettante

4. a person who admires something; devotee; fan.

   an amateur of the cinema.

adjective

1. characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; nonprofessional.

   an amateur painter; amateur tennis.

amateur

/ -tʃə, ˌæməˈtɜː, ˈæmətə, -ˌtjʊə /

noun

1. a person who engages in an activity, esp a sport, as a pastime rather than professionally or for gain

2. an athlete or sportsman

3. a person unskilled in or having only a superficial knowledge of a subject or activity

4. a person who is fond of or admires something

5. (modifier) consisting of or for amateurs

   an amateur event

adjective

1. amateurish; not professional or expert

   an amateur approach

Other Word Forms

• proamateur adjective
• amateurism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur¹

1775–85; < French, Middle French < Latin amātor lover, equivalent to amā- (stem of amāre to love) + -tor -tor, replaced by French -teur (< Latin -tōr-, oblique stem of -tor ); -eur

Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur¹

C18: from French, from Latin amātor lover, from amāre to love

Example Sentences

Outside the stadium, Prefontaine led the attack on the exploitative Amateur Athletic Union, which controlled a player’s amateur status and Olympics qualifications.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But just as significantly, the line between amateur and pro track athletes is fuzzier than ever, according to Ato Boldon, an Olympic medalist turned TV analyst.

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A Hatton relative was running the pub so his name was regularly mentioned as he progressed in the amateur code.

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That poise disappears when he starts talking about a popular hack in the world of amateur marathoning.

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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.

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