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pro·fes·sion·al | \ prə-ˈfesh-nəl 
, -ˈfe-shə-nᵊl \
, -ˈfe-shə-nᵊl \Definition of professional
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : 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
2a : 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
professional
nounDefinition of professional (Entry 2 of 2)
: one that is professional especially : one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally
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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.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Kneeling during the national anthem as a form of silent protest has been happening among professional athletes for a couple of years.
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Mike Brest, Washington Examiner, "Trump: 'I hope' NFL season doesn't happen if players don't stand for national anthem," 11 Aug. 2020 While classes don't begin until Sept. 8, Cy-Fair teachers are required to report back to work for professional development Friday.
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Abigail Rosenthal, Houston Chronicle, "Cy-Fair teachers to protest district's reopening plans amid COVID-19 at Monday board meeting," 10 Aug. 2020 This is why it's considered a preferred exercise for many rehabbing professional athletes as part of their return-to-play protocol.
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Dana Santas, CNN, "Get moving faster with cardio: How to reboot your workout routine," 10 Aug. 2020 Tensions have swelled in her home town and spread far afield as activists, professional athletes and social media stars push for action while investigators plead for more patience.
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Dylan Lovan, Star Tribune, "Experts: Obstacles to charging police in Breonna Taylor case," 4 Aug. 2020 The impacts others describe — such as depression, memory loss or impulse control problems — could be linked to other factors, like age, lifestyle and the unique stressors professional athletes face, Yurgelun-Todd said.
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Taylor Stevens, The Salt Lake Tribune, "Utah congressional candidate Burgess Owens downplays head injuries he suffered in the NFL," 4 Aug. 2020 Interim Superintendent Fred Bolden said the start of the school year has been delayed until Aug. 26 to allow five additional days for professional development and planning time for teachers.
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Ed Wittenberg, cleveland, "It’s official: Solon Schools will start Aug. 26 as part of revised calendar," 3 Aug. 2020 Teachers will begin professional development on Monday.
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Brandi Addison, Dallas News, "Allen ISD students split on return to campus, online learning," 30 July 2020 As a public science and research center, the Lawrence Hall of Science designs curriculum and supports professional development for different educational organizations around the country.
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Drew Higgins, Smithsonian Magazine, "Will COVID-19 Spell the End of Outdoor and Environmental Education?," 13 July 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Brienna Wagner, a creative professional, will open In Good Company, which will combine home decor, remodeling and interior design.
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Evan Frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A design showroom and event space will open in Oconomowoc at the end of September," 8 Aug. 2020 Those tests require a nasal swab supervised by a health professional and can only be run on specialized machines found at hospitals, doctor's offices and clinics.
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Matthew Perrone, Nicky Forster, Michelle Liu, Anchorage Daily News, "Long lines, long waits for results contribute to drop in coronavirus testing in US, officials say," 5 Aug. 2020 Those tests require a nasal swab supervised by a health professional and can only be run on specialized machines found at hospitals, doctor’s offices and clinics.
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Matthew Perrone, chicagotribune.com, "US testing for the coronavirus is dropping, even as the death toll rises," 5 Aug. 2020 Those tests require a nasal swab supervised by a health professional and can only be run on specialized machines found at hospitals, doctor's offices and clinics.
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Arkansas Online, "Virus testing in the U.S. is dropping, even as deaths mount," 5 Aug. 2020 Those tests require a nasal swab supervised by a health professional and can only be run on specialized machines found at hospitals, doctor's offices and clinics.
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Matthew Perrone, Star Tribune, "Virus testing in the US is dropping, even as deaths mount," 5 Aug. 2020 Adam Rosen is a marketing professional who has lived in Denver for the past 11 years.
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Adam Rosen, The Denver Post, "Guest Commentary: Keep the graffiti as a reminder of this fight for justice," 3 June 2020 The award, which recognizes leadership, strong moral character and a substantial record of service to the PGA and the game of golf, is the highest annual honor given to a PGA professional.
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Mark Kazlowski, Dallas News, "Local Links: Ronny Glanton earns PGA of America Golf Professional of the Year," 30 July 2020 The medical professional helping Cranston explained the process, which takes about an hour, to him.
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Lauren Huff, EW.com, "Bryan Cranston reveals he had coronavirus, shares video of himself donating plasma," 30 July 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'professional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for professional
professional
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of professional
(Entry 1 of 2)
: relating to a job that requires special education, training, or skill
: done or given by a person who works in a particular profession
: paid to participate in a sport or activity
professional
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of professional (Entry 2 of 2)
: someone who does a job that requires special training, education, or skill : someone who is a member of a profession
: someone who is paid to participate in a sport or activity
: someone who has a lot of experience or skill in a particular job or activity
See the full definition for professional in the English Language Learners Dictionary
professional
adjectivepro·fes·sion·al | \ prə-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl \
\Kids Definition of professional
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : relating to an occupation : of or as an expert
professional advice
2 : taking part in an activity (as a sport) in order to make money
3 : participated in by people who are paid to compete
professional sports
4 : having or showing a quality appropriate in a profession
He did a very professional job.
professional
nounKids Definition of professional (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a person who does a job that requires special education or skill
2 : a person who is paid to participate in a sport or activity
professional
adjectivepro·fes·sion·al | \ prə-ˈfesh-nəl, -ən-ᵊl \
\Medical Definition of professional
(Entry 1 of 2)
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
Other Words from professional
professionally \ -ē \ adverb
\ adverbprofessional
nounMedical Definition of professional (Entry 2 of 2)
: a person who is professional especially : a person who engages in a pursuit or activity professionally
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Time Traveler for professional
The first known use of professional was in 1606
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