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View synonyms for amateur

amateur

[ am-uh-choor, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur ]

noun

  1. a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons. Compare professional.
  2. an athlete who has never competed for payment or for a monetary prize.

    Synonyms: nonprofessional

  3. a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity:

    Hunting lions is not for amateurs.

    Synonyms: novice, tyro, dilettante

  4. a person who admires something; devotee; fan:

    an amateur of the cinema.



adjective

  1. characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; nonprofessional:

    an amateur painter; amateur tennis.

amateur

/ -tʃə; ˌæməˈtɜː; ˈæmətə; -ˌtjʊə /

noun

  1. a person who engages in an activity, esp a sport, as a pastime rather than professionally or for gain
  2. an athlete or sportsman
  3. a person unskilled in or having only a superficial knowledge of a subject or activity
  4. a person who is fond of or admires something
  5. modifier consisting of or for amateurs

    an amateur event

“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


adjective

  1. amateurish; not professional or expert

    an amateur approach

“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
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Derived Forms

  • ˈamateurism, noun
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Other Words From

  • pro·ama·teur adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur1

1775–85; < French, Middle French < Latin amātor lover, equivalent to amā- (stem of amāre to love) + -tor -tor, replaced by French -teur (< Latin -tōr-, oblique stem of -tor ); -eur
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Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur1

C18: from French, from Latin amātor lover, from amāre to love
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Example Sentences

If you’re a fan of amateur basketball, there’s no better place to spend the next four months than Southern California, where talent at the high school level has converged among the classes of 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028 to create one of those “I can’t believe it” moments.

“SoCal basketball is the greatest amateur basketball in the world right now. Tomorrow may be different but today,” Inglewood coach Jason Crowe Sr. said in a tweet.

Wille, who was herself an amateur footballer, had joined the NFF in 1976 - the same year it had given its approval to women's football in the country - and she was not prepared to accept the status quo.

From BBC

His well-produced lessons are popular with amateur players who are drawn to his his blunt charm and direct way of teaching and who respect that he had a previous pro run of his own.

He is a talented player, who enjoyed a fine amateur career including victory in the prestigious McGregor Trophy.

From BBC

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Amaterasuamateurish