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definitions

pro

1
[ proh ]
/ proʊ /
|
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR pro ON THESAURUS.COM

adverb

in favor of a proposition, opinion, etc.

noun, plural pros.

a proponent of an issue; a person who upholds the affirmative in a debate.
an argument, consideration, vote, etc., for something.

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RELATED WORDS

for, with, favoring

Nearby words

  1. priština,
  2. prk,
  3. prl,
  4. prm,
  5. prn,
  6. pro bono,
  7. pro bono publico,
  8. pro forma,
  9. pro forma invoice,
  10. pro memoria
Compare con1.

Origin of pro

1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin prō (prep) in favor of, for; akin to per-, Greek pró, Sanskrit pra

pro

2
[ proh ]
/ proʊ /
Informal.

adjective

professional.

noun, plural pros.

a professional.
the pros, the professional athletic leagues, as of football, baseball, or basketball: He's sure to be signed by the pros.

Origin of pro

2
First recorded in 1840–50; shortened form

pro

3
[ proh ]
/ proʊ /

noun, plural pros. Slang.

prophylactic(def 5).

Origin of pro

3
shortened form

pro

4
[ proh; English proh ]
/ proʊ; English proʊ /

preposition Latin.

for.

Pro

Biochemistry.

proline.

PRO

or P.R.O.

public relations officer.

pro-

1

a prefix indicating favor for some party, system, idea, etc., without identity with the group (pro-British; pro-Communist; proslavery), having anti- as its opposite.
a prefix of priority in space or time having especially a meaning of advancing or projecting forward or outward, and also used to indicate substitution, attached widely to stems not used as words: provision; prologue; proceed; produce; protract; procathedral; proconsul.

Origin of pro-

1
< Latin prō-, pro-, combining form representing prō pro1

pro-

2

a prefix identical in meaning with pro-1, occurring in words borrowed from Greek (prodrome) or formed of Greek (and occasionally Latin) elements.

Origin of pro-

2
< Greek, combining form of pró for, before; see pro1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for pro

British Dictionary definitions for pro

pro

1
/ (prəʊ) /

adverb

in favour of a motion, issue, course of action, etcCompare anti

preposition

in favour of

noun plural pros

(usually plural) an argument or vote in favour of a proposal or motionSee also pros and cons
(usually plural) a person who votes in favour of a proposal, motion, etc
See con 2

Word Origin for pro

from Latin prō (prep) in favour of

noun plural pros

informal short for professional
slang a prostitute

the internet domain name for

professional practitioner

adjective

informal short for professional

Word Origin for pro

C19: by shortening

PRO

abbreviation for

Public Records Office
public relations officer

pro-

1

prefix

in favour of; supportingpro-Chinese
acting as a substitute forproconsul; pronoun

Word Origin for pro-

from Latin prō (adv and prep). In compound words borrowed from Latin, prō- indicates: forward, out (project); forward and down (prostrate); away from a place (prodigal); onward in time or space (proceed); extension outwards (propagate); before in time or place (provide, protect); on behalf of (procure); acting as a substitute for (pronominal); and sometimes intensive force (promiscuous)

pro-

2

prefix

before in time or position; anterior; forwardprophase; procephalic; prognathous

Word Origin for pro-

from Greek pro (prep) before (in time, position, rank, etc)
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for pro
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for pro

Pro

abbr.

proline

pro-

pref.

Earlier; before; prior to:progenitor.
Rudimentary:pronucleus.
Anterior; in front of:procephalic.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.