professed

[pruh-fest]

adjective

1. avowed; acknowledged.

2. professing to be qualified; professional, rather than amateur.

3. having taken the vows of, or been received into, a religious order.

4. alleged; pretended.

professed

/ prəˈfɛsɪdlɪ, prəˈfɛst /

adjective

1. avowed or acknowledged

2. alleged or pretended

3. professing to be qualified as

   a professed philosopher

4. having taken vows of a religious order

Other Word Forms

• half-professed adjective
• nonprofessed adjective
• self-professed adjective
• unprofessed adjective
• professedly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of professed¹

1300–50; Middle English (in religious sense) < Medieval Latin profess ( us ) (special use of Latin professus, past participle of profitērī to declare publicly, equivalent to pro- pro- ¹ + -fet-, combining form of fatērī to acknowledge + -tus past participle suffix, with tt > ss ) + -ed ²

Example Sentences

He demonstrated this in his announcement, in which he professed sadness over his decision and had nothing but kind words for other board members.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the region’s biggest military buildup since the 1980s, the U.S. has deployed some of its most battle-tested weaponry to the Caribbean under the professed goal of providing muscle in the war on drugs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He has served since 2022 as ambassador to Yemen, managing relations at a turbulent time as the United States bombed Huthi rebels that have lobbed missiles at Israel in professed solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Read more on Barron's

Several committee members professed to knowing Skobin’s family, with one lauding him for the “good stock you come from.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Bessent also professed to be “very happy with the current currency arrangement.”

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• stated