professional
Americanadjective
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following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain.
a professional builder.
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of, relating to, or connected with a profession.
professional studies.
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appropriate to a profession.
professional objectivity.
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engaged in one of the learned professions.
A lawyer is a professional person.
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following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime.
a professional golfer.
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making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business.
“A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”
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undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain.
professional baseball.
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of or for a professional person or their place of business or work.
a professional apartment; professional equipment.
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done by an expert.
professional car repairs.
noun
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professionals
plural
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a person who belongs to one of the professions, especially one of the learned professions.
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a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs.
a golf professional.
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an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
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a person who is expert at some kind of work.
You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.
adjective
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of, relating to, suitable for, or engaged in as a profession
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engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood
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extremely competent in a job, etc
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(of a piece of work or anything performed) produced with competence or skill
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undertaken or performed for gain or by people who are paid
noun
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a person who belongs to or engages in one of the professions
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a person who engages for his livelihood in some activity also pursued by amateurs
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a person who engages in an activity with great competence
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an expert player of a game who gives instruction, esp to members of a club by whom he is hired
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of professional
First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al 1
Explanation
When an athlete "goes pro," she goes professional–-she is paid for her service rather than doing it on an amateur basis. Other professionals, including doctors and lawyers, are also paid for their work, which, we hope, they conduct in a professional manner. In the 15th century, the word profession referred to vows taken upon entering a religious order. A monk or priest professed his faith. Now, the word suggests competence and expertise and even dignity––"He can't ask me to go out for coffee. I'm a vice president. That just wouldn't be professional!"
Vocabulary lists containing professional
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The Mark of Athena
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Les Snead had been working in professional football for three decades when he realized that he’d been doing it all wrong.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
Americans are sold a linear understanding of professional sports.
From Slate ● Aug. 28, 2026
The 36-year-old professional dancer won the latest series of the Channel 4 challenge show alongside Strictly's Carlos Gu, claiming a joint victory with actor Brian Conley and his daughter, comedian Lucy Conley.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
Mr. Hoser beat him to the punch, and this provoked the bested professional to write an article complaining that amateur herpetologists took shortcuts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
At Chumley, they have professional security guards who wear earpieces and look like they just retired from the secret service.
From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein
"All healthcare professionals should encourage patients to adopt healthy lifestyle practices and evidence-based therapies, while also helping them reduce their consumption of ultra-processed foods," Hennekens said.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 27, 2026
“Black maternal health has too often been treated as a niche concern, something discussed among public health professionals and then set aside.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
More skilled professionals identify as influencers than ever before.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
I don't really like to review and criticise food - I'll leave that to the professionals.
From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026
The Sugar Circuit, which Arthur Ashe demanded be integrated in 1973, was regarded as the training ground for many of the world’s future tennis professionals.
From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
