unprofessional

American  

[uhn-pruh-fesh-uh-nl] / ˌʌn prəˈfɛʃ ə nl /

adjective

1. not professional; not pertaining to or characteristic of a profession.

2. at variance with or contrary to professional standards or ethics; not befitting members of a profession, as language, behavior, or conduct.

3. not belonging to a profession; nonprofessional.

4. not done with professional competence, as a play staged or an opera performed by amateurs; amateurish.

5. Sports. nonprofessional.

---

noun

1. a person who is not a professional; amateur.

unprofessional British  

/ ˌʌnprəˈfɛʃənəl /

adjective

1. contrary to the accepted code of conduct of a profession

2. amateur

3. not belonging to or having the required qualifications for a profession

---

Other Word Forms

• unprofessionalism
  noun
• unprofessionally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of unprofessional

First recorded in 1800–10; un- ¹ + professional

Related Words

• ignorant
• improper
• incompetent
• inefficient
• lax
• negligent
• unethical