pro

[ proh ]

adverb

in favor of a proposition, opinion, etc.

noun,plural pros.

a proponent of an issue; a person who upholds the affirmative in a debate.
an argument, consideration, vote, etc., for something.

Origin of pro

First recorded in 1400–50; Middle English, from Latin prō (preposition) “in favor of, on behalf of,” akin to Greek pró, Sanskrit pra; see also for, per

Compare con¹.

Other definitions for pro (2 of 8)

pro²

[ proh ]

adjective

professional.

noun,plural pros.

a professional.
the pros, the professional athletic leagues, as of football, baseball, or basketball: He's sure to be signed by the pros.

Origin of pro

First recorded in 1840–50; by shortening

Other definitions for pro (3 of 8)

pro³

[ proh ]

noun,plural pros.Slang.

prophylactic (def. 5).

Origin of pro

First recorded in 1945–50; by shortening

Other definitions for pro (4 of 8)

pro⁴

[ proh ]

prepositionLatin.

for.

Other definitions for Pro (5 of 8)

Pro

abbreviationBiochemistry.

proline.

Other definitions for PRO (6 of 8)

PRO

public relations officer.

Other definitions for pro- (7 of 8)

pro-¹

a prefix indicating favor for some party, system, idea, etc., without identity with the group (pro-British; pro-Communist; proslavery), having anti- as its opposite.
a prefix of priority in space or time having especially a meaning of advancing or projecting forward or outward, and also used to indicate substitution, attached widely to stems not used as words: provision; prologue; proceed; produce; protract; procathedral; proconsul.

Origin of pro-

⁷

<Latin prō-,pro-, combining form representing prōpro¹

Other definitions for pro- (8 of 8)

pro-²

a prefix identical in meaning with pro-1 , occurring in words borrowed from Greek (prodrome) or formed of Greek (and occasionally Latin) elements.

Origin of pro-

⁸

<Greek, combining form of pró for, before; see pro¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pro in a sentence

I watch football, basketball, and hockey on TV and sometimes “The Bass Pros” on Outdoor Channel.
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham | P. J. O’Rourke | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Pros: Getting to picture yourself gliding efficiently through town, perhaps en route to a snowy assignation.
So You Are Enduring a Temporarily Paralyzing Winter Storm | Kelly Williams Brown | February 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Pros: Feeling, ever so briefly, as though everything is magic and beautiful and also that you are Winona Ryder circa 1990.
So You Are Enduring a Temporarily Paralyzing Winter Storm | Kelly Williams Brown | February 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
All I have done is to select from the Pros and Cons that present themselves to my mind.
Mystic London: | Charles Maurice Davies
Uncle Pros knew not the wonder of his own restoration; but to the girl this man before her was something more than mortal.
The Power and the Glory | Grace MacGowan Cooke

And the stranger glanced to where Uncle Pros stood, still occasionally interrogating the back of his neck with fumbling fingers.
The Power and the Glory | Grace MacGowan Cooke
"Uncle Pros, you used to talk to him by the hour, when you didn't know me at all," Johnnie told him chokingly.
The Power and the Glory | Grace MacGowan Cooke
Through it all, both Pros and Johnnie attempted to lead the talk around to some information which might be of use to them.
The Power and the Glory | Grace MacGowan Cooke

British Dictionary definitions for pro (1 of 5)

pro¹

/ (prəʊ) /

adverb

in favour of a motion, issue, course of action, etc: Compare anti

preposition

in favour of

nounplural pros

(usually plural) an argument or vote in favour of a proposal or motion: See also pros and cons
(usually plural) a person who votes in favour of a proposal, motion, etc

Origin of pro

from Latin prō (prep) in favour of

See con 2

British Dictionary definitions for pro (2 of 5)

pro²

/ (prəʊ) /

nounplural pros

informal short for professional
slang a prostitute

the internet domain name for

professional practitioner

adjective

informal short for professional

Origin of pro

C19: by shortening

British Dictionary definitions for PRO (3 of 5)

PRO

abbreviation for

Public Records Office
public relations officer

British Dictionary definitions for pro- (4 of 5)

pro-¹

prefix

in favour of; supporting: pro-Chinese
acting as a substitute for: proconsul; pronoun

Origin of pro-

⁴

from Latin prō (adv and prep). In compound words borrowed from Latin, prō- indicates: forward, out (project); forward and down (prostrate); away from a place (prodigal); onward in time or space (proceed); extension outwards (propagate); before in time or place (provide, protect); on behalf of (procure); acting as a substitute for (pronominal); and sometimes intensive force (promiscuous)

British Dictionary definitions for pro- (5 of 5)

pro-²

prefix

before in time or position; anterior; forward: prophase; procephalic; prognathous

Origin of pro-

⁵

from Greek pro (prep) before (in time, position, rank, etc)

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

Browse