professional

[ pruh-fesh-uh-nl ]

/ prəˈfɛʃ ə nl /

SEE 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.

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Question 1 of 7

What does “vacillate” mean?

to waver in mind or opinion; be indecisive or irresolute.

to cause to be empty or unoccupied.

to assent tacitly; agree; consent.

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Origin of professional

First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al¹

OTHER WORDS FROM professional

pro·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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for professional

Indeed, Malone seems to be in a very good place—both personally, and professionally.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood Stardom|Marlow Stern|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The talks and other resources we create will be edited, professionally produced, and shared online around the world.
Quorum: Global LGBT Voices||December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Deen is not only punctual, but also professionally courteous to his former co-stars.
My Bizarre Night With James Deen, Libertarian Porn Star|Emily Shire|November 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She is aware that both personally and professionally, she has been fortunate.
Cameroonian Women Fighting Sexism With Tourism|Abena Agyeman-Fisher|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They hop around the country begging for dollars, when they used to spend that time together, professionally and socially.
Time is Money: How to Fix Outrageous Political Spending|Jim Arkedis|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mr. Null, professionally and personally, was incapable of stepping beyond his own narrow limits, under any provocation whatever.
Heart and Science|Wilkie Collins
He is not a discoverer of great principles, but is professionally skillful and accomplished, and eminently practical.
Steam Steel and Electricity|James W. Steele
Here too, almost everything you learn will pay you professionally.
Practical Essays|Alexander Bain
The amount of solid honesty to be met with in every class, except the professionally criminal class, is simply astonishing.
The Civilization Of China|Herbert A. Giles
I am on my vacation and I am not doing any explaining, professionally or otherwise.
Our Next-Door Neighbors|Belle Kanaris Maniates

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 forms of professional

professionally, 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

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professional

adjective

noun

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Origin of professional

OTHER WORDS FROM professional

Example sentences from the Web for professional

British Dictionary definitions for professional

adjective

noun

Derived forms of professional

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

professional

adjective

noun

QUIZZES

DON’T VACILLATE! VANQUISH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of professional

OTHER WORDS FROM professional

Words related to professional

Example sentences from the Web for professional

British Dictionary definitions for professional

adjective

noun

Derived forms of professional