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

Other Word Forms

• professionally adverb
• interprofessional adjective
• pseudoprofessional adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of professional¹

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

Example Sentences

Writers, artists and other creative professionals have raised concerns that Anthropic and other tech companies are using their work to train their AI systems without their permission and not fairly compensating them.

From Los Angeles Times

The party's annual conference is an increasingly professional affair and Reform's sustained lead in the opinion polls has clearly been noted by public affairs professionals.

From BBC

The then-57-year-old Tyson ended nearly two decades of retirement from professional fighting last year when he fought the then-27-year-old Paul in a sanctioned bout.

From Los Angeles Times

She currently leads the team with four assists and scored her first professional goal last May, on an assist from her sister, making it the first sister-to-sister goal in league history.

From Los Angeles Times

Parents this year are also required to talk to a healthcare professional before their children can be vaccinated.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• competent 
• efficient 
• experienced 
• licensed www.thesaurus.com
• qualified 
• skillful