professor

play

noun pro·fes·sor \ prə-ˈfe-sər \

Definition of professor

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

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professorial

play \ˌprō-fə-ˈsȯr-ē-əl, ˌprä-\ adjective

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professorially

play \-ē-ə-lē\ adverb

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professorship

play \prə-ˈfe-sər-ˌship\ noun

See professor defined for English-language learners

See professor defined for kids

Examples of professor in a Sentence

Professor Williams will be teaching the class.

Recent Examples of professor from the Web

A former Wheaton College professor who was on probation for a child pornography conviction was re-sentenced to prison Wednesday for downloading a 1950s movie that featured images of naked children.

— clifford ward, Wheaton Glen Ellyn, "Ex-Wheaton College professor imprisoned for viewing film with nude children," 30 Aug. 2017
But allowing debate everywhere could limit universities' abilities to keep protesters and counter-protesters separated – distance that can prevent violence, said Dan Tokaji, a law professor at the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

— jessie balmert, Cincinnati.com, "Post-Charlottesville, Ohio GOP wants to allow protests anywhere on campus," 29 Aug. 2017
Hooper, a native of Austin, Texas, was a college professor and cameraman before turning to directing.

— arlene washington, The Hollywood Reporter, "Tobe Hooper, 'Texas Chain Saw Massacre' Director, Dies at 74," 27 Aug. 2017
Genetics usually predispose a person to rosacea, Gary Goldenberg, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, tells SELF, but other triggers usually spark the initial breakout.

— korin miller, SELF, "Lena Dunham Is Not Happy That She Suddenly Has Rosacea," 24 Aug. 2017
Comey was previously an adjunct professor at the University of Richmond Law School and a Hertog Fellow in National Security Law at Columbia University Law School.

— christina coleman, Essence.com, "Former FBI Director James Comey Will Deliver Howard University's Opening Convocation Keynote Speech," 23 Aug. 2017
CEC is a nonprofit organization that offers university-level, non-credit, homework-free classes taught by local college professors and other experts in their fields.

— elizabeth marie himchak, Pomerado News, "CEC to resume its academic year in new venue," 23 Aug. 2017
In it, we’re treated to the following claim by Eric Knowles, a New York University psychology professor: An us–them mentality is unfortunately a really basic part of our biology.

— berny belvedere, National Review, "The Destructive Power of Progressive Overreach," 22 Aug. 2017
Directing himself, Lewis starred as a near-sighted professor and chemistry egghead who dazzles his coeds by becoming the ultra-cool pop singer Buddy Love.

— duane byrge, Billboard, "Jerry Lewis, Nonpareil Genius of Comedy, Dies at 91," 20 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'professor.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.