professionalize

verb

pro·​fes·​sion·​al·​ize prə-ˈfesh-nə-ˌlīz 

-ˈfe-shə-nə-ˌlīz

professionalized; professionalizing

transitive verb

: to give a professional character to

professionalization

prə-ˌfesh-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

-ˌfe-shə-nə-lə-

noun

Examples of professionalize in a Sentence

The country is professionalizing the military.

Recent Examples on the Web

For any medical practice that needs to professionalize its operations quickly, Looped offers a streamlined and cost-effective way to do so. —Malana Van Tyler, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2026

College football is professionalized now. —Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026

The paradox of this quartet of movies up for the new casting Oscar, all boldly peopled with nonprofessionals, is that this very practice has become professionalized. —Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026

This, however, is not true of US Skimo, which has been rapidly professionalizing as a governing body since the sport was announced as a future Winter Olympic event back in 2021. —Ben Church, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for professionalize

• contextualize
• industrialize
• materialise
• materialize
• memorialize
• microenterprise
• overemphasize
• particularize
• revolutionise
• revolutionize
• actualize
• antagonize

Kids Definition

professionalize

verb

pro·​fes·​sion·​al·​ize prə-ˈfesh-nəl-ˌīz 

-ən-ᵊl-

professionalized; professionalizing

: to give a professional nature to