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.

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

adjective

1. amateurish; not professional or expert

   an amateur approach

Other Word Forms

• amateurism noun
• proamateur adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur¹

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

Example Sentences

At youth level, she is a five-time national champion and won gold in the 57kg weight category at the amateur World Championships in Colorado last year.

From BBC

Bugner began boxing as a teenager and quickly rose through the amateur ranks, winning the ABA light heavyweight title at just 17.

From BBC

Even with John Mitchell making 13 changes to his starting XV, World Cup favourites England demolished amateur side Samoa in Northampton.

From BBC

With England 47-0 up, the visitors, who are a fully amateur side, knocked over a penalty through Harmony Vatau, which was greeted by huge celebrations.

From BBC

Samoa, who are fully amateur and ranked 15th in the world, lost their opening game 73-0 to Australia.

From BBC