1. person who works in a skilled occupation, specialist. pertaining to a profession, of a skilled occupation; working in one of the skilled occupations. professional\pro*fes"sion*al\, n. a person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker.professional \pro*fes"sion*al\ , a.
2. of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct. "pride, not personal, but professional." "a professional sneerer.".
3. engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; -- opposed to amateur.professional adj.
4. engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood; "the professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications"; "began her professional career after the olympics"; "professional theater"; "professional football"; "a professional cook"; "professional actors and athletes" [ant: nonprofessional].
5. of or relating to or suitable as a profession; "professional organizations"; "a professional field such as law".
6. characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession; "professional conduct"; "professional ethics"; "a thoroughly professional performance" [ant: unprofessional].
7. of or relating to a profession; "we need professional advice"; "professional training"; "professional equipment for his new office".
8. engaged in by members of a profession; "professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching" n 1: a person engaged in one of the learned professions [syn: professional person ] 2: an athlete who plays for pay [syn: pro] [ant: amateur] 3: an authority qualified to teach apprentices [syn: master].
9. Of or pertaining to a profession, or calling; conforming to the rules or standards of a profession; following a profession; as, professional knowledge; professional conduct.
10. Engaged in by professionals; as, a professional race; opposed to amateur.
11. A person who prosecutes anything professionally, or for a livelihood, and not in the character of an amateur; a professional worker. a person engaged in one of the learned professions an athlete who plays for pay characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession; "professional conduct"; "professional ethics"; "a thoroughly professional performance" engaged in by members of a profession; "professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching" of or relating to a profession; "we need professional advice"; "professional training"; "professional equipment for his new office" of or relating to or suitable as a profession; "professional organizations"; "a professional field such as law".
12. 1. Professional means relating to a person's work, especially work that requires special training. His professional career started at Liverpool University. + professionally pro·fes·sion·al·ly a professionally-qualified architect.
13. Professional people have jobs that require advanced education or training. highly qualified professional people like doctors and engineers. Professional is also a noun. My father wanted me to become a professional and have more stability.
14. You use professional to describe people who do a particular thing to earn money rather than as a hobby. This has been my worst time for injuries since I started as a professional footballer ¡Ù amateur Professional is also a noun. He had been a professional since March 1985. + professionally pro·fes·sion·al·ly By age 16 he was playing professionally with bands in Greenwich Village.
15. Professional sports are played for money rather than as a hobby. an art student who had played professional football for a short time. ¡Ù amateur.
16. approval If you say that something that someone does or produces is professional, you approve of it because you think that it is of a very high standard. They run it with a truly professional but personal touch. ¡Ù amateur Professional is also a noun. a dedicated professional who worked harmoniously with the cast and crew. + professionally pro·fes·sion·al·ly These tickets have been produced very professionally. see also:
semi-professional.