professor

noun

pro·​fes·​sor prə-ˈfe-sər 

1

: one that professes, avows, or declares

2

a

: a faculty member of the highest academic rank at an institution of higher education

b

: a teacher at a university, college, or sometimes secondary school

c

: one that teaches or professes special knowledge of an art, sport, or occupation requiring skill

professorship

prə-ˈfe-sər-ˌship 

noun

Examples of professor in a Sentence

Professor Williams will be teaching the class.

Recent Examples on the Web

It was rescued and saved by Rick Flagan, a professor of chemical engineering and environmental science, who found it in a tin film canister in a Caltech closet. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026

Methane emissions often go underreported, Amy Townsend-Small, a professor of environmental studies at the University of Cincinnati, told ABC News. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026

Cole is a retired professor at the University of San Diego School of Law. —Kevin Cole, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

Among the attorneys is Northeastern Law professor Richard Daynard, who successfully led litigation against tobacco companies in the 1980s and 1990s. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 26 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing professor

• assistant professor
• associate professor
• regius professor

Rhymes for professor

• aggressor
• assessor
• compressor
• confessor
• depressor
• hairdresser
• necessar
• oppressor
• possessor
• processor
• repressor
• successor

Kids Definition

professor

noun

pro·​fes·​sor prə-ˈfes-ər 

: a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university

professorial

ˌprō-fə-ˈsōr-ē-əl 

ˌpräf-ə-, 

-ˈsȯr-

adjective

professorially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb