professional

[pruh-fesh-uh-nl]

adjective

1. following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain.

   a professional builder.

2. of, relating to, or connected with a profession.

   professional studies.

3. appropriate to a profession.

   professional objectivity.

4. engaged in one of the learned professions.

   A lawyer is a professional person.

5. following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime.

   a professional golfer.

6. making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business.

   “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”

7. undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain.

   professional baseball.

8. of or for a professional person or their place of business or work.

   a professional apartment; professional equipment.

9. done by an expert.

   professional car repairs.

noun

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

2. a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs.

   a golf professional.

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

4. a person who is expert at some kind of work.

   You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

professional

/ prəˈfɛʃənəl /

adjective

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

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

3. 1. extremely competent in a job, etc

   2. (of a piece of work or anything performed) produced with competence or skill

4. undertaken or performed for gain or by people who are paid

noun

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

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

3. a person who engages in an activity with great competence

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

Other Word Forms

• professionally adverb
• interprofessional adjective
• pseudoprofessional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of professional¹

First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Using professional norms and human decency as your guide, can you guess what Dhillon did in the aftermath of the fire?

From Los Angeles Times

This time around, professional contractors would shoot the island’s estimated 2,165 deer on the ground with rifles, said Pepe Barton, communications director for the conservancy.

From Los Angeles Times

The administration maintains that its immigration enforcement operations are legitimate and necessary, portraying agents as professionals carrying out lawful duties rather than as figures worthy of mockery or resistance.

From Los Angeles Times

His wife, a professional dancer, has multiple costumes that have yet to be cleaned; it’s been so long since he’s been home that he doesn’t remember which photographs still cling to his fridge.

From Los Angeles Times

Midfielder Cavallo was at Adelaide United four years ago when he became the only openly gay top-flight male professional footballer in the world.

From BBC

Related Words

• competent 
• efficient 
• experienced 
• licensed www.thesaurus.com
• qualified 
• skillful