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

Now 58 years old, he was a talented athlete growing up, playing semiprofessional soccer while completing his studies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

I know how seductive the promises of minor league and semiprofessional football can be to young men who aren’t ready to let go.

From Slate • Jun. 1, 2024

She has taken a somewhat unorthodox slant in her advertising, highlighting her background as a semiprofessional pool player in a digital ad and a mailer sent to nearly 100,000 households.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2024

He had previously worked as a rodeo hand, a roughneck in the Oklahoma oil fields and as a semiprofessional football player to support his young family.

From New York Times • Feb. 6, 2024

“I'm rather surprised you don't remember her better. She's very striking. Her husband—Bertie—was a semiprofessional golfer.”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell