professional

1 of 2

adjective

pro·​fes·​sion·​al prə-ˈfesh-nəl How to pronounce professional (audio)
-ˈfe-shə-nᵊl
1
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession
b
: engaged in one of the learned professions
c(1)
: characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession
(2)
: exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace
2
a
: participating for gain or livelihood in an activity or field of endeavor often engaged in by amateurs
a professional golfer
b
: having a particular profession as a permanent career
a professional soldier
c
: engaged in by persons receiving financial return
professional football
3
: following a line of conduct as though it were a profession
a professional patriot
professionally adverb

professional

2 of 2

noun

: one that is professional
especially : one that engages in a pursuit or activity professionally

Examples of professional in a Sentence

Adjective Do you have any professional experience? You should seek professional advice. a golfer who recently turned professional I was impressed by the calm and professional way she handled the crisis. The presentation was very professional. Noun The bathtub was installed by a professional. The tournament is open to both amateurs and professionals. a golfer who recently became a professional She handled the situation like a professional.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Their historic win came inside Allegiant Stadium on WrestleMania Saturday as the duo once again staked their claim as the top tag team in professional wrestling. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025 Invest in and Retain Quality Educators Support policies that provide competitive compensation, manageable workloads, and professional respect for teachers and staff to improve retention and recruitment. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Noun
As the report on Forbes.com about DEI bans illustrated, this confusion is why campus health professionals have argued that DEI bans should include language stating that these bans do not impact clinical services provided by license health care providers on campus. Eric Wood, Forbes.com, 21 Apr. 2025 Along with early detection of the warning signs and appropriately responding to them by seeking professional help, mental health professionals say long-term support from family, schools and communities will play important roles in helping survivors and victims recover and manage their trauma. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 21 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for professional

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of professional was in 1606

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Professional.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professional. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

professional

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​fes·​sion·​al prə-ˈfesh-nəl How to pronounce professional (audio)
-ən-ᵊl
1
a
: of, relating to, or resembling that of a profession
b
: having a particular profession as a permanent career
a professional soldier
2
a
: taking part for money in an activity (as sport) that others do for pleasure
professional golfers
b
: engaged in by persons who are paid
professional football
professionally
adverb

professional

2 of 2 noun
: a person who engages in an activity professionally

Medical Definition

professional

1 of 2 adjective
pro·​fes·​sion·​al prə-ˈfesh-nəl, -ən-ᵊl How to pronounce professional (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a profession
2
: engaged in one of the learned professions
3
: characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession
professionally adverb

professional

2 of 2 noun
: a person who is professional
especially : a person who engages in a pursuit or activity professionally

More from Merriam-Webster on professional

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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