professionalism

noun

pro·​fes·​sion·​al·​ism prə-ˈfesh-nə-ˌli-zəm 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌli-

1

: the skill, good judgment, and polite behavior that is expected from a person who is trained to do a job well

respected for their professionalism

A high level of professionalism is expected when working with clients.

The scrubs' design provides nurses with a sense of fashion, functionality and professionalism.

—Cheryl Robinson

The pair clearly rate each other highly for their acting skills and for the kind of professionalism that has kept them both at the top of the game for more than two decades.

—Patrick Frater

2

: the following of a profession (such as athletics) for gain or livelihood

Examples of professionalism in a Sentence

For writers such as Alexander Pope and Samuel Johnson, struggling in the transition from the age of patronage to that of Grub Street professionalism, Shakespeare offered not only a body of poetic invention but also an inspirational career trajectory. —Jonathan Bate, Harper's, April 2007

In Washington, careerism has so trumped professionalism among political journalists as to render Alterman's ethical concerns almost quaint. —Gene Lyons, Harper's, October 2003

It is difficult not to contrast the professionalism of modestly paid firefighters and police doing their duty on September 11 with the secretive … behavior of six- and seven-figure accountants, lawyers, CEOs, bankers, and financial analysts who failed at their duty with Enron. —Bruce Nussbaum, Business Week, 28 Jan. 2002

A high level of professionalism is expected when working with clients.

She is highly respected for her professionalism.

Recent Examples on the Web

Loughran highlighted the strides the public safety team made during his tenure, including improving staff morale, training, internal support and department-wide professionalism. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

Many older workers learned that professionalism is about setting clear boundaries between personal and professional life. — Jeff Leblanc, The Conversation, 25 Sep. 2026

Every aspect of the campus is designed to prepare students for the realities of the beauty industry while encouraging creativity, professionalism, and personal growth from the first day of class. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Sep. 2026

Content creator Josh Lora, also known as @tellthebees, posted on TikTok that people are trying to rewrite the reality of professionalism to their liking—and that those who bring coffee into an interview won’t get the job. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for professionalism

• absolutism
• adventurism
• aestheticism
• africanism
• agnosticism
• alcoholism
• anachronism
• anglicanism
• antagonism
• arianism
• asceticism
• astigmatism