professional

[ pruh-fesh-uh-nl ]

/ prəˈfɛʃ ə nl /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: professional / professionals 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.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

have

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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, adjectivepseu·do·pro·fes·sion·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use professional in a sentence

A pass-through is a corporate structure — anything from a solo graphic design operation to a large professional sports team — that doesn’t pay taxes itself.
Georgia Senator David Perdue Privately Pushed for a Tax Break for Rich Sports Teamowners|by Robert Faturechi and Justin Elliott|November 20, 2020|ProPublica
By all accounts, he’s a good teammate and as professional as they come, but the center turned out to be a horrendous fit alongside Joel Embiid in his one year with him.
The Upsides And Downsides Of The NBA’s Five Biggest Trades So Far|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|November 19, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Most people from the delta don’t have the professional skills or the resources to find well-paying jobs.
Asia’s biggest climate migration|Konstantin Kakaes|November 19, 2020|MIT Technology Review
This program provides those startups access to our software and professional solutions that the industry is using in their day-to-day activities.
Leveraging collective intelligence and AI to benefit society|Jason Sparapani|November 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Being professional when you don’t have to be goes a long way in this business.
How to Suck Less at … Being Funny in the Nude|Eugene Robinson|November 18, 2020|Ozy
His ups and downs professionally outside of the World Cup are a vital a part of his story in the book.
Tim Howard’s Wall of Intensity|William O’Connor|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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
In addition, Doctor Kraus, the poison was administered most carefully and professionally with a hypodermic needle.
Hooded Detective, Volume III No. 2, January, 1942|Various
"Always glad to serve you—professionally," murmured the Doctor with an undeniably definite accent on the word 'professionally'.
Molly Make-Believe|Eleanor Hallowell Abbott
"Better light it up first," said the Tennessee Shad professionally.
The Varmint|Owen Johnson
Ralegh's relations to the Howards, though always professionally intimate, were not always very friendly, either now or hereafter.
Sir Walter Ralegh|William Stebbing
“He interests me professionally very much indeed,” Harcutt answered.
Mysterious Mr. Sabin|E. Phillips Oppenheim

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

professional

Origin of professional

OTHER WORDS FROM professional

Words related to professional

How to use professional in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for professional

Derived forms of professional