unprofessional

adjective

un·​pro·​fes·​sion·​al ˌən-prə-ˈfesh-nəl 

-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl

: not exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, or generally businesslike manner in the workplace : not professional

unprofessional attire

unprofessional comments

Synonyms

• inexperienced
• amateur
• amateurish

Examples of unprofessional in a Sentence

an unprofessional carelessness about the accuracy of the news story

Recent Examples on the Web

While aerial intercepts are intended to prevent airspace violations, such maneuvers can lead to midair collisions if executed in an unsafe or unprofessional manner. —Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025

Channel 9 is the most unprofessional of all Orlando news programs. —Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 June 2025

This arrest looked so unprofessional and just wrong in so many ways. —Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 25 June 2025

Two common themes emerged: many aren’t sure of who the DA is or what the office does and, those who do know, view the DA as ineffective, unprofessional and, in many cases, incompetent. —Craig MacLellan, Boston Herald, 3 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1770, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for unprofessional

• nonprofessional
• preprofessional
• subprofessional
• compressional
• concessional
• confessional
• congressional
• obsessional
• processional
• professional
• recessional
• successional

Kids Definition

unprofessional

adjective

un·​pro·​fes·​sion·​al

ˌən-prə-ˈfesh-nəl,

-ən-ᵊl

: not professional

especially : not up to the standards of one's profession

unprofessionally

-ē

adverb