professional
♦♦ pro|fes|sion|al /prəf'eʃənəl/ (professionals)
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
Professional means relating to a person's work, especially work that requires special training.
His professional career started at Liverpool University.
● professionally [ADV] ADV -ed/adj, ADV with cl
...a professionally-qualified architect...
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Professional people have jobs that require advanced education or training.
...highly qualified professional people like doctors and engineers.
[N-COUNT]
Professional is also a noun.
My father wanted me to become a professional and have more stability.
3 [ADJ]
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...
≠ amateur
[N-COUNT]
Professional is also a noun.
He had been a professional since March 1985.
● professionally [ADV] ADV after v
By age 16 he was playing professionally with bands in Greenwich Village.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Professional sports are played for money rather than as a hobby.
...an art student who had played professional football for a short time.
≠ amateur
5 [ADJ]
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.
≠ amateur
[N-COUNT]
Professional is also a noun.
...a dedicated professional who worked harmoniously with the cast and crew.
● professionally [ADV] ADV with v
These tickets have been produced very professionally.
6
see also semi-professionalpro|fes|sion|al foul (professional fouls)
[N-COUNT]
In football, if a player commits a professional foul, they deliberately do something which is against the rules in order to prevent another player from scoring a goal.
1 [ADJ] ADJ n
Professional means relating to a person's work, especially work that requires special training.
His professional career started at Liverpool University.
● professionally [ADV] ADV -ed/adj, ADV with cl
...a professionally-qualified architect...
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
Professional people have jobs that require advanced education or training.
...highly qualified professional people like doctors and engineers.
[N-COUNT]
Professional is also a noun.
My father wanted me to become a professional and have more stability.
3 [ADJ]
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...
≠ amateur
[N-COUNT]
Professional is also a noun.
He had been a professional since March 1985.
● professionally [ADV] ADV after v
By age 16 he was playing professionally with bands in Greenwich Village.
4 [ADJ] ADJ n
Professional sports are played for money rather than as a hobby.
...an art student who had played professional football for a short time.
≠ amateur
5 [ADJ]
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.
≠ amateur
[N-COUNT]
Professional is also a noun.
...a dedicated professional who worked harmoniously with the cast and crew.
● professionally [ADV] ADV with v
These tickets have been produced very professionally.
6
see also semi-professionalpro|fes|sion|al foul (professional fouls)
[N-COUNT]
In football, if a player commits a professional foul, they deliberately do something which is against the rules in order to prevent another player from scoring a goal.