pro
1[ proh ]
/ proʊ /
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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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Compare con1.
Words nearby pro
prizeworthy, PRK, PRL, PRM, p.r.n., pro, proa, proabortion, proaccelerin, proacrosomal granule, proaction
Other definitions for pro (2 of 8)
pro2
[ proh ]
/ proʊ /
adjective
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
2First recorded in 1840–50; by shortening
Other definitions for pro (3 of 8)
Origin of pro
3First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening
Other definitions for pro (4 of 8)
Other definitions for pro (5 of 8)
Other definitions for pro (6 of 8)
PRO
or P.R.O.
public relations officer.
Other definitions for pro (7 of 8)
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-
1Other definitions for pro (8 of 8)
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
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use pro in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for pro (1 of 5)
pro1
/ (prəʊ) /
adverb
in favour of a motion, issue, course of action, etcCompare anti
preposition
in favour of
noun plural pros
(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
British Dictionary definitions for pro (2 of 5)
pro2
/ (prəʊ) /
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
British Dictionary definitions for pro (3 of 5)
PRO
abbreviation for
Public Records Office
public relations officer
British Dictionary definitions for pro (4 of 5)
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)
British Dictionary definitions for pro (5 of 5)
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
Medical definitions for pro (1 of 2)
Pro
abbr.
proline
Medical definitions for pro (2 of 2)
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.