professional - Definitions from Dictionary.com

9 results for: professional

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

pro·fes·sion·al

Audio Help [pruh-fesh-uh-nl] Pronunciation Key

–adjective

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

2.	of, pertaining 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 his or her place of business or work: a professional apartment; professional equipment.

9.	done by a professional; expert: professional car repairs.

–noun

10.	a person who belongs to one of the professions, esp. one of the learned professions.

11.	a person who earns a living in a sport or other occupation frequently engaged in by amateurs: a golf professional.

12.	an expert player, as of golf or tennis, serving as a teacher, consultant, performer, or contestant; pro.

13.	a person who is expert at his or her work: You can tell by her comments that this editor is a real professional.

[Origin: 1740–50; profession + -al¹

]

—Related forms

pro·fes·sion·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

pro·fes·sion·al Audio Help (prə-fěsh'ə-nəl) Pronunciation Key
adj.

1. Of, relating to, engaged in, or suitable for a profession: lawyers, doctors, and other professional people.
2. Conforming to the standards of a profession: professional behavior.
Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career: a professional writer.
Performed by persons receiving pay: professional football.
Having or showing great skill; expert: a professional repair job.

A person following a profession, especially a learned profession.
One who earns a living in a given or implied occupation: hired a professional to decorate the house.
A skilled practitioner; an expert.

pro·fes'sion·al·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

professional
adjective
1.	engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood; "the professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications"; "began her professional career after the Olympics"; "professional theater"; "professional football"; "a professional cook"; "professional actors and athletes" [ant: nonprofessional]
2.	of or relating to or suitable as a profession; "professional organizations"; "a professional field such as law"
3.	characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession; "professional conduct"; "professional ethics"; "a thoroughly professional performance" [ant: unprofessional]
4.	of or relating to a profession; "we need professional advice"; "professional training"; "professional equipment for his new office"
5.	engaged in by members of a profession; "professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching"
noun
1.	a person engaged in one of the learned professions
2.	an athlete who plays for pay [ant: amateur]
3.	an authority qualified to teach apprentices [syn: master]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
proˈfessional1 [-ʃə-] adjective

(negative unprofessional) of a profession
Example: professional skill

Arabic:	مِهَني
Chinese (Simplified):	专业的
Chinese (Traditional):	專業的
Czech:	profesionální
Danish:	faglig
Dutch:	beroeps©
Estonian:	ameti-
Finnish:	ammatti-
French:	professionnel
German:	Berufs-…
Greek:	επαγγελματικός
Hungarian:	szakmai
Icelandic:	fagmannlegur, atvinnumannslegur
Indonesian:	profesional
Italian:	professionale

Japanese:	専門の
Korean:	전문직의
Latvian:	profesionāls
Lithuanian:	profesinis
Norwegian:	fag-, faglig, profesjonell
Polish:	fachowy
Portuguese (Brazil):	profissional
Portuguese (Portugal):	profissional
Romanian:	profesional
Russian:	профессиональный
Slovak:	profesionálny
Slovenian:	poklicen
Spanish:	profesional
Swedish:	yrkes-
Turkish:	meslekî, profesyonel

proˈfessional2 [-ʃə-] adjective

of a very high standard
Example: a very professional performance

Arabic:	حِرَفي، عالي المُسْتَوى
Chinese (Simplified):	职业性的
Chinese (Traditional):	職業性的
Czech:	kvalitní, výtečný
Danish:	professionel
Dutch:	vakkundig
Estonian:	kõrgetasemeline
Finnish:	korkeatasoinen
French:	excellent
German:	professionell
Greek:	επαγγελματικός, που είναι υψηλών προδιαγραφών
Hungarian:	profi
Icelandic:	fagmannlegur
Indonesian:	profesional
Italian:	professionale, da professionista*

Japanese:	プロの
Korean:	높은 수준의
Latvian:	profesionāls
Lithuanian:	profesionalus
Norwegian:	profesjonell, fagmessig, kvalitets-
Polish:	profesjonalny
Portuguese (Brazil):	profissional
Portuguese (Portugal):	profissional
Romanian:	excelent
Russian:	профессиональный
Slovak:	kvalitný
Slovenian:	strokoven
Spanish:	profesional, muy bueno
Swedish:	professionell
Turkish:	profesyonelce, büyük ustalıkla

proˈfessional3 [-ʃə-] adjective

earning money by performing, or giving instruction, in a sport or other activity that is a pastime for other people; not amateur
Example: a professional musician/golfer

Arabic:	إحْتِرافي، مُحْتَرِف
Chinese (Simplified):	职业上的
Chinese (Traditional):	職業上的
Czech:	profesionální
Danish:	professionel
Dutch:	beroeps©
Estonian:	professionaalne
Finnish:	ammatti-
French:	professionnel
German:	Berufs-…
Greek:	επαγγελματίας
Hungarian:	hivatásos
Icelandic:	atvinnu-
Indonesian:	bayaran
Italian:	professionista

Japanese:	プロの
Korean:	직업적인, 직업 선수의
Latvian:	profesionāls
Lithuanian:	profesionalus
Norwegian:	yrkes-, profesjonell
Polish:	zawodowy
Portuguese (Brazil):	profissional
Portuguese (Portugal):	profissional
Romanian:	profesionist
Russian:	профессиональный
Slovak:	profesionálny
Slovenian:	poklicen
Spanish:	profesional
Swedish:	professionell
Turkish:	bir işi meslek olarak yapan, profesyonel

proˈfessional [-ʃə-] noun

(abbreviation pro prou) a person who is professional
Example: a golf professional/pro

Arabic:	شَخْص مُحْتَرِف
Chinese (Simplified):	专业人员
Chinese (Traditional):	專業人員
Czech:	profesionál
Danish:	professionel
Dutch:	vakman, professional
Estonian:	professionaal
Finnish:	ammattilainen
French:	professionnel, *-elle
German:	Berufs-…
Greek:	επαγγελματίας
Hungarian:	hivatásos (művész, sportoló)
Icelandic:	atvinnumaður
Indonesian:	profesional
Italian:	professionista

Japanese:	プロ
Korean:	직업 선수; 전문가
Latvian:	profesionālis
Lithuanian:	profesionalas
Norwegian:	yrkesutøver, profesjonell
Polish:	zawodowiec
Portuguese (Brazil):	profissional
Portuguese (Portugal):	profissional
Romanian:	profesionist
Russian:	профессионал
Slovak:	profesionál
Slovenian:	profesionalec
Spanish:	profesional
Swedish:	proffs
Turkish:	profesyonel (kimse)

See also: profession, profess

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Professional

Pro*fes"sion*al\, a. 1. Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct. "Pride, not personal, but professional." --Macaulay. "A professional sneerer." --De Quincey.

2. Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; -- opposed to amateur.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Professional

Pro*fes"sion*al\, n. A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.

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