professional
[pruh-fesh-uh-nl]
- 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.
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- 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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Origin of professional
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for professionally
Contemporary Examples
Indeed, Malone seems to be in a very good place—both personally, and professionally.
Jena Malone’s Long, Strange Trip From Homelessness to Hollywood StardomMarlow Stern
December 22, 2014
The talks and other resources we create will be edited, professionally produced, and shared online around the world.
Quorum: Global LGBT VoicesDecember 10, 2014
Deen is not only punctual, but also professionally courteous to his former co-stars.
She is aware that both personally and professionally, she has been fortunate.
They hop around the country begging for dollars, when they used to spend that time together, professionally and socially.
Historical Examples
I stumbled on the case, and will do professionally all that is needed.
Ester Ried Yet SpeakingIsabella Alden
Neither was their personality stamped in any way, professionally, socially or racially.
The Secret AgentJoseph Conrad
In the course of our conversation I happened to mention that I wrote, professionally.
Kent Knowles: QuahaugJoseph C. Lincoln
“You must have spent a good deal of time looking after men––professionally,” he said.
The Greater PowerHarold Bindloss
As far as I can remember he saw very little of Morrison professionally.
VictoryJoseph Conrad
professional
- 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
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- 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
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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 professionally
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.
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professional
n.
"one who does it for a living," 1798, from professional (adj.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper