professional

Word parts

profession + -al

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /prəˈfɛʃənəl/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Adjective

Positive professional

Comparative more professional

Superlative most professional

1. (usually before a noun) About a job such as doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.

   The group offers free professional advice on legal matters and housing.

   The government has established a new professional body to regulate doctors.

2. If someone is professional, they do their job seriously and with much skill.

   We employ friendly, professional staff who can offer the benefit of many years' experience.

3. If someone is professional, they are paid for their job, sport, art, etc.

   After playing amateur tennis for years, he turned professional at the age of 25.

Antonyms

• amateur

Noun

Singular professional

Plural professionals

1. (countable) A professional is a person who is paid for doing their job, sport, art, etc.

   More and more the Olympics are allowing professionals to compete.

2. (countable) A professional is a person who does a job such as doctor, lawyer, accountant, etc.

   Professionals often spend years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in school.

3. (countable) A professional is a person who is serious and skilled in their work.

   You should get him to fix your car. He's a real professional.

Antonyms

• amateur

Related words

• profession
• professionally
• pro