semiprofessional

American  

[sem-ee-pruh-fesh-uh-nl, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm i prəˈfɛʃ ə nl, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. actively engaged in some field or sport for pay but on a part-time basis.

   semiprofessional baseball players.

2. engaged in by paid, part-time people.

   semiprofessional football.

3. having some features of professional work but requiring less knowledge, skill, and judgment.

   a semiprofessional job.

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noun

1. a person who is active in some field or sport for pay on a part-time basis.

semiprofessional British  

/ ˌsɛmɪprəˈfɛʃənəl /

adjective

1. (of a person) engaged in an activity or sport part-time but for pay

2. (of an activity or sport) engaged in by semiprofessional people

3. of or relating to a person whose activities are professional in some respects

   a semiprofessional pianist

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noun

1. a semiprofessional person

Other Word Forms

• semiprofessionally adverb

Etymology

Origin of semiprofessional

First recorded in 1895–1900; semi- + professional

Example Sentences

When he was younger, he played semiprofessional basketball for teams from both Ramallah and a nearby Israeli settlement — a contradiction he shrugs off.

From New York Times

He graduated in 1962 and played semiprofessional basketball for a year.

From Washington Post

Ideally, universities would leave the semiprofessional athletics business entirely.

From Washington Post

By 18, he had become a striker on the city’s semiprofessional team.

From New York Times

What began 10 years ago on Tuesday with eight semiprofessional sides has expanded since 2018 to be Europe’s only fully professional women’s league with 12 teams.

From Seattle Times