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• pro
  pro

  adverb

  in favor of a proposition, opinion, etc.
• Pro
  Pro

  abbreviation

  proline.
• PRO
  PRO

  public relations officer.
• pro-
  pro-

  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.

pro

¹ American  

[proh] / proʊ /

adverb

1. in favor of a proposition, opinion, etc.

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noun

• pros
  plural

1. a proponent of an issue; a person who upholds the affirmative in a debate.

2. an argument, consideration, vote, etc., for something.

pro ² American  

[proh] / proʊ /

adjective

1. professional.

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noun

• pros
  plural

1. a professional.

2. the pros, the professional athletic leagues, as of football, baseball, or basketball.

   He's sure to be signed by the pros.

pro ³ American  

[proh] / proʊ /

noun

Slang.

• pros
  plural

1. prophylactic.

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pro ⁴ American  

[proh] / proʊ /

preposition

Latin.

1. for.

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Pro ⁵ American  

abbreviation

Biochemistry.

1. proline.

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PRO ⁶ American  

Or P.R.O.

1. public relations officer.

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pro- ⁷ American  

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.

2. 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.

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pro- ⁸ American  

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

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pro ¹ British  

/ prəʊ /

adverb

1. in favour of a motion, issue, course of action, etc Compare anti

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preposition

1. in favour of

noun

1. (usually plural) an argument or vote in favour of a proposal or motion See also pros and cons

2. (usually plural) a person who votes in favour of a proposal, motion, etc

pro ² British  

/ prəʊ /

noun

1. informal short for professional

2. slang a prostitute

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abbreviation

1. professional practitioner

adjective

1. informal short for professional

PRO ³ British  

abbreviation

1. Public Records Office

2. public relations officer

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pro- ⁴ British  

prefix

1. in favour of; supporting

   pro-Chinese

2. acting as a substitute for

   proconsul

   pronoun

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pro- ⁵ British  

prefix

1. before in time or position; anterior; forward

   prophase

   procephalic

   prognathous

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• pros
  plural

Etymology

Origin of pro¹

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English, from Latin prō (preposition) “in favor of, on behalf of,” akin to Greek pró, Sanskrit pra; see also for, per ( def. )

Origin of pro²

First recorded in 1840–50; by shortening

Origin of pro³

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening

Origin of pro-⁷

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

Origin of pro-⁸

< Greek, combining form of pró for, before; see pro ¹

Explanation

Pro is a Latin root word meaning for. If you make a list of pros and cons, you are listing the reasons for doing something and the reasons not to, respectively. Pro is also the shortened form of the word "professional," often referring to professional sports. If your cousin plays college basketball — and he's really good — he'll have to decide if he is going to turn pro or finish college first. The shortened form isn't always about sports, however. You might handle your little sister's bicycle accident like a pro, cleaning her up, sticking bandages on her knees, and handing her a lollipop.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pro Pro PRO pro- pros

The particular issue in question on Thursday is the legality of an SEC rule—a direct response to Kiffin’s ploy—that deems players who have gone through the pro draft process ineligible to compete.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 2, 2026

She was at a crossroads - rebuild for another Olympic cycle or turn professional in an era where women's pro boxing was still neglected.

From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2026

“Rookie” actor Dewan, best known for her breakthrough role in “Step Up” alongside Channing Tatum, will dust off her dancing shoes to compete with pro Val Chmerkovskiy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

And now we have pro football players going back to school, maybe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 1, 2026

“And let’s see what we can do about getting the original Duke back on the job ASAP. We need a real pro in that part, too.”

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Please note: The WSJ Pro Cybersecurity newsletter won’t be published Monday in observance of the Labor Day holiday in the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Most Americans dislike data centers: 75% of people say they would oppose a data center being built near where they live, according to one poll by Heatmap Pro.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026

Carson Mayor Pro Tem Cedric Hicks said they are working to identify the individuals and the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has joined Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal for a fee of £60m.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

“It’s owing to he’s garnished with lice,” said Pro Bono.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson

The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is a useful measuring stick, since it’s sold both to the cloud providers and the companies that would otherwise rent from them.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 3, 2026

The storage company on Monday announced new branding for its solid-state drives, including what are now known as the Optimus GX PRO drives.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 6, 2026

Maybe the closest antecedent is a new, $85 million HUD program called “Pathways to Removing Obstacles to Housing,” or PRO Housing, which this summer issued 17 grants of a few million dollars each.

From Slate ● Sep. 24, 2024

With the two sides far apart, PRO brought in replacement officials to start the MLS season, but there really is no replacing the regular ones.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2024

"Tush, that was my own private promise, Monsieur; my own private prediction of what would happen; a thing PRO FORMA", and to save Madame Denis's life.

From History of Friedrich II of Prussia — Volume 16 by Thomas Carlyle

His reactions to the sometimes outrageous comments of his interview subjects, be they pro- or anti-wolf, are sphinx-like; he treats everyone with respect, even when they seem to be going for a soundbite.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025

Kennedy said the change would improve public trust by ensuring members of the committee didn’t have “any specific pro- or anti-vaccine agenda.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025

The scientists identified the specific groups of neurons in the vagus nerve and in the cNST that help detect and control pro- and anti-inflammatory activity.

From Science Daily ● May 1, 2024

But the decision angered both pro- and anti-Israel demonstrators.

From BBC ● Apr. 25, 2024

NOTE.—In a few instances pro- is changed into pur-, as purpose; into por-, as portray; and into pol-, as pollute.

From New Word-Analysis by William Swinton

The calculus of pros and cons determines what students are willing to pay to attend.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 30, 2026

The Big 12 and Southeastern Conference have not announced steps, though the SEC ripped the potential for pros back in college in a statement late Monday.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026

Between fishing outings and poker games, veteran finance pros shared their fears about the artificial intelligence trade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Our roundtable pros size up the trend and offer 10 promising stocks.

From Barron's ● Aug. 21, 2026

Alex casually knocked the dust off his pants, just like the pros did on TV.

From "Eleven" by Tom Rogers

Related Words

• ace
• expert
• professional