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

Stanford professor Jamie Zeitzer, a physiologist who studies circadian cycles and how humans respond to light, supports ending the twice-a-year time changes. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 14 July 2026

On its face, the state AGs’ case is a strong one, said Sam Weinstein, professor at the Cardozo School of Law and former DOJ antitrust attorney. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 July 2026

Darin Detwiler, a professor of food policy at Northeastern University, said the problems are cumulative rather than the result of any single decision. — Lauren Morganbesser, semafor.com, 14 July 2026

Since going viral in 2015 for her TED Talk about the mathematics of love, British professor Hannah Fry has become a go-to source for those looking to make sense of the world’s mysteries. — Shannon Carlin, Time, 14 July 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