professional

[pruh-fesh-uh-nl]

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.

Origin of professional

First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al¹

Related formspro·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for professionally

Contemporary Examples of professionally

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
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
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
She is aware that both personally and professionally, she has been fortunate.
Cameroonian Women Fighting Sexism With Tourism
Abena Agyeman-Fisher
November 7, 2014
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

Historical Examples of professionally

I stumbled on the case, and will do professionally all that is needed.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking
Isabella Alden
Neither was their personality stamped in any way, professionally, socially or racially.
The Secret Agent
Joseph Conrad
In the course of our conversation I happened to mention that I wrote, professionally.
Kent Knowles: Quahaug
Joseph C. Lincoln
“You must have spent a good deal of time looking after men––professionally,” he said.
The Greater Power
Harold Bindloss
As far as I can remember he saw very little of Morrison professionally.
Victory
Joseph Conrad

British Dictionary definitions for professionally

professional

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 Formsprofessionally, 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

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.

professional

"one who does it for a living," 1798, from professional (adj.).