professional

[ pruh-fesh-uh-nl ]

/ prəˈfɛʃ ə nl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR professional ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.

of, relating to, or connected with a profession: professional studies.

appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity.

engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person.

following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer.

making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business: “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”

undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain: professional baseball.

of or for a professional person or his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment.

done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs.

noun

a person who belongs to one of the professions, especially one of the learned professions.

a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional.

an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.

a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

Nearby words

profert, profess, professed, professedly, profession, professional, professional association, professional corporation, professional foul, professional standards review organization, professionalism

Origin of professional

First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al¹

Related formspro·fes·sion·al·ly, adverbin·ter·pro·fes·sion·al, adjectivein·ter·pro·fes·sion·al·ly, adverbpseu·do·pro·fes·sion·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for professional

Texas offers not just place to its actual or potential new residents, but professional possibilities.
Will Texas Stay Texan?|David Fontana|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In fact, I publicly vowed to abstain from The Ball in 2012, but professional responsibilities and curiosity got the better of me.
The Craziest Date Night for Single Jews, Where Mistletoe Is Ditched for Shots|Emily Shire|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Soon thereafter, Bentivolio was asked to play Santa in downtown Milford and became a professional.
Kerry Bentivolio: The Congressman Who Believes in Santa Claus|Ben Jacobs|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“By no means are we Grade A professional consultants,” Goff said.
‘Ready for Romney’ Is Amateur Hour|Tim Mak|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

A professional ballroom dancer and instructor, her name reflects a parallel that runs in both BDSM and dance: symbiosis.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If that is so, everybody will be flying in time, and the professional aviator will be just a common, everyday person.
Airship Andy|Frank V. Webster
I was scared at letting go of my professional easy-going life.
Aliens|William McFee
Mr. Goddard, the District Inspector of Police, was a young man and stood on the lowest rung of his professional ladder.
The Search Party|G. A. Birmingham
Because of prejudice, however, it is rarely that the happily married woman makes a business or professional career.
Analyzing Character|Katherine M. H. Blackford and Arthur Newcomb
The accounts of these officers were regularly entered in the book by a professional scribe, who was paid accordingly.
Notes and Queries for Worcestershire|John Noake

British Dictionary definitions for professional

professional

/ (prəˈfɛʃənəl) /

adjective

of, relating to, suitable for, or engaged in as a profession

engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood

extremely competent in a job, etc
(of a piece of work or anything performed) produced with competence or skill

undertaken or performed for gain or by people who are paid

noun

a person who belongs to or engages in one of the professions

a person who engages for his livelihood in some activity also pursued by amateurs

a person who engages in an activity with great competence

an expert player of a game who gives instruction, esp to members of a club by whom he is hired

Derived Formsprofessionally, adverb

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 professional (1 of 2)

professional

adj.

early 15c., of religious orders; 1747 of careers (especially of the skilled or learned trades from c.1793); see profession. In sports, opposed to amateur, from 1846. Related: Professionally.

Word Origin and History for professional (1 of 2)

professional

"one who does it for a living," 1798, from professional (adj.).

professional

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of professional

Examples from the Web for professional

British Dictionary definitions for professional

professional

adjective

noun

Word Origin and History for professional (1 of 2)

professional

Word Origin and History for professional (1 of 2)

professional