professional

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​fes·​sion·​al prə-ˈfesh-nəl How to pronounce professional (audio)
-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession
b
: engaged in one of the learned professions
c(1)
: characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession
(2)
: exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2
a
: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs
a professional golfer
b
: having a particular profession as a permanent career
a professional soldier
c
: engaged in by persons receiving financial return
professional football
3
: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession
a professional patriot
professionally adverb

professional

2 of 2

noun

: one that is professional
especially : one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally

Examples of professional in a Sentence

Adjective Do you have any professional experience? You should seek professional advice. a golfer who recently turned professional I was impressed by the calm and professional way she handled the crisis. The presentation was very professional. Noun The bathtub was installed by a professional. The tournament is open to both amateurs and professionals. a golfer who recently became a professional She handled the situation like a professional.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Brings together innovative thinkers, thought leaders, and professional heads from various fields to share their ideas. Luann Gibbs, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024 Beyond school, Alfredo’s experience on a professional film set and internships with independent filmmakers highlight his dedication to honing his craft and his networking prowess, preparing him for a career in cinema. Heide Janssen, Orange County Register, 17 Mar. 2024 Ellie Bentley, 22, first arrived in St. Louis when her ex-boyfriend, Indiana Vassilev, a professional soccer player, moved from English club Aston Villa to MLS club St. Louis City. Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 16 Mar. 2024 Laura Smither vanished before breakfast On April 3, 1997, 12-year-old Laura Smither, an aspiring professional ballerina, vanished after going for a morning jog in her quiet Friendswood, Texas, neighborhood. Claire Lempert, ABC News, 15 Mar. 2024 The practitioner can review the school's results, meet with your child, and give you their professional opinion. Suzie Glassman, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Not currently projected to be selected in the first round of the draft, Bona has to weigh the risk of ending up on a two-way contract that could pay him roughly $500,000 versus returning and improving his professional stock while probably making just as much or more in NIL money. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 15 Mar. 2024 Early in her career, Erin worked as a prop stylist, production designer, and professional organizer while simultaneously freelance writing about DIY and interior design trends for several lifestyle sites. Erin Johnson, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024 Plus, hear hacks from professional organizers on maximizing counter space, Maintaining your home: Necessary home maintenance can save your thousands in the long run. Rachel Kurzius, Washington Post, 5 Mar. 2024
Noun
Southwest Human Development, Phoenix, $10,000 To maintain the Birth to Five Helpline, which supports Arizona parents, caregivers and early childhood professionals who call with questions or concerns about the young children in their care. Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 17 Mar. 2024 Before gangs took control of Port-au-Prince, hospitals still closed their doors from time to time because doctors would go on strike to protest rampant kidnappings targeting medical professionals. Frances Robles, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 Always speak with a healthcare professional before adding a supplement to your routine to ensure that the supplement is appropriate for your individual needs and to find out what dosage to take. Casey Seiden, Parents, 15 Mar. 2024 Gomez had sued the Consumer Attorneys of San Diego, a nonprofit trade group that promotes local trial lawyers and hosts networking, seminars and other events for legal professionals. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Mar. 2024 Today Hailey Bieber joined the likes of many a young urban professional in the quest to appropriate utility-wear. Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2024 Having the day off school for staff development, 300 students spent anywhere from an hour to a full day shadowing professionals at 61 companies such as Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Lockheed Martin, or at local businesses like Sara’s Southern Kitchen. Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 As a result, healthcare professionals are fielding a steady stream of questions from patients who are curious about what magnesium can do for them. Adam Markovitz, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Hilton Head Island, South Carolina: Despite what Bravo promotes, Hilton Head Island in South Carolina isn’t only for housewives and reality television professionals. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 4 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'professional.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of professional was in 1606

Dictionary Entries Near professional

Cite this Entry

“Professional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professional. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

professional

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​fes·​sion·​al prə-ˈfesh-nəl How to pronounce professional (audio)
-ən-ᵊl
1
a
: of, relating to, or resembling that of a profession
b
: having a particular profession as a permanent career
a professional soldier
2
a
: taking part for money in an activity (as sport) that others do for pleasure
professional golfers
b
: engaged in by persons who are paid
professional football
professionally
adverb

professional

2 of 2 noun
: a person who engages in an activity professionally

Medical Definition

professional

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​fes·​sion·​al prə-ˈfesh-nəl, -ən-ᵊl How to pronounce professional (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession
2
: engaged in one of the learned professions
3
: characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession
professionally adverb

professional

2 of 2 noun
: a person who is professional
especially : a person who engages in a pursuit or activity professionally
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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