professional

[ pruh-fesh-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain:

   a professional builder.

2. of, relating to, or connected with a profession:

   professional studies.

3. appropriate to a profession:

   professional objectivity.

4. engaged in one of the learned professions:

   A lawyer is a professional person.

5. following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime:

   a professional golfer.

6. making a business or constant practice of something not properly to be regarded as a business:

   “A salesman,” he said, “is a professional optimist.”

7. undertaken or engaged in as a means of livelihood or for gain:

   professional baseball.

8. of or for a professional person or their place of business or work:

   a professional apartment; professional equipment.

9. done by an expert:

   professional car repairs.

noun

1. a person who belongs to one of the professions, especially one of the learned professions.
2. a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs:

   a golf professional.

3. an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.
4. a person who is expert at some kind of work:

   You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

professional

/ prəˈfɛʃənəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, suitable for, or engaged in as a profession
2. engaging in an activity for gain or as a means of livelihood
3. 1. extremely competent in a job, etc
   2. (of a piece of work or anything performed) produced with competence or skill
4. undertaken or performed for gain or by people who are paid

noun

1. a person who belongs to or engages in one of the professions
2. a person who engages for his livelihood in some activity also pursued by amateurs
3. a person who engages in an activity with great competence
4. an expert player of a game who gives instruction, esp to members of a club by whom he is hired

Derived Forms

• proˈfessionally, adverb

Other Words From

• pro·fes·sion·al·ly adverb
• in·ter·pro·fes·sion·al adjective
• pseu·do·pro·fes·sion·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of professional¹

First recorded in 1740–50; profession + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Girls’ schools shuttered, women were barred from public spaces and female professionals were told not to return to work.

From New York Times

Weiss and Brier’s fruitful professional dynamic is one example of a pair who answers that age-old debate ignited by “When Harry Met Sally.”

From Los Angeles Times

From the beginning of his learning curve, Charles charges ahead with a mixture of professional determination, childlike glee and scientific precision — finding the atmosphere “rife with secrets, grudges, interpersonal issues.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Education Minister Stephen Morgan told the BBC the government is already investing £1 billion in Send and providing access to specialist mental health professionals in every school.

From BBC

Bouhanna denied the accusations, saying in a statement that he “chose to launch the token anonymously, not wanting to associate it with my personal profile or professional affiliations.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• artist
• expert
• pro
• specialist