professor

noun

pro·​fes·​sor prə-ˈfe-sər How to pronounce professor (audio)
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 noun

Examples of professor in a Sentence

Professor Williams will be teaching the class.
Recent Examples on the Web Ventilator coverage problems started picking up after technology improvements made the devices easier to use, according to Dr. Lisa Wolfe, a professor at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Tom Murphy, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 But Marshall Fisher, professor of operations, information, and decisions at Wharton, told Fortune last month the product line defies Target’s strategic position. Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 8 Mar. 2024 Gregory Keating, professor of law and philosophy with the USC Gould School of Law, said there’s a lot of speculation about how those autonomous vehicles will fit into existing law. Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2024 The flag was designed by David Ewald, a professor at the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication. Camilla Schick, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2024 Kyle Harper, professor of classics and letters at the University of Oklahoma, says that in ancient times life expectancies were so low in part because infectious diseases were such a powerful force. Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 His death was confirmed by the University of Bristol, where Dr. Epstein was a professor of pathology from 1968 to 1985, and had also served as the head of the department for 15 years. Delthia Ricks, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Patty, meanwhile, was one of the most important education reformers in the United States, serving as the first president of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and a professor at Columbia University. Kellie B. Gormly, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2024 Gottesman, 93, is a former professor at the school who studied learning disabilities and created an adult literacy program. James Powel, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'professor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of professor was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near professor

Cite this Entry

“Professor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/professor. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

professor

noun
pro·​fes·​sor prə-ˈfes-ər How to pronounce professor (audio)
: a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university
professorial
ˌprō-fə-ˈsōr-ē-əl How to pronounce professor (audio)
ˌpräf-ə-
-ˈsȯr-
adjective
professorially adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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