What does professional mean?
Professional describes work, conduct, or people associated with a specialized occupation and the standards expected in that field. As an adjective, it can refer to an occupation, such as professional training, or to the expertise and reliability expected of a skilled practitioner. It may also distinguish paid or career-based activity from amateur activity. As a noun, a professional is someone who has specialized knowledge or training and performs work requiring that expertise, such as a medical professional, legal professional, or professional athlete. The word often carries a positive connotation of competence, discipline, and adherence to professional standards, although it can simply identify someone engaged in professional rather than amateur work. Its use is common in British and American English, especially in employment, services, sport, and media.
Relating to a person's occupation or field of expertise; displaying the skill, knowledge, or standards expected of a trained practitioner.
"The hospital provides professional care to all its patients."
Can also mean performed or undertaken as a paid occupation rather than as an amateur pursuit.
A person who performs specialized or expert work, especially as part of an occupation requiring formal training.
"The professionals advised the committee on the proposed changes."
Often used with a field-specific modifier, such as medical professional or legal professional.
The plural refers to multiple people who perform specialized or expert work.
"The conference brought together professionals from medicine, law, and engineering."
The word professional comes from Latin professus, meaning publicly declared: it originally described someone who openly professed a faith, craft, or special skill.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does professional come from?
The word comes through French professionnel from Latin professionalis, derived from professus, the past participle of proferre, meaning to declare or profess publicly. In English, it developed in the sense of declaring a vocation or publicly avowing a belief before acquiring the broader modern meanings of skilled occupational practice and its practitioner. Related forms such as profession, profess, professor, and confess ultimately share the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How professional is actually used
In its adjectival use, professional can describe an occupation, conduct, product, service, or performance. It may imply expertise and high standards, but it can also be used formally to describe paid or full-time work, as in professional sports. As a noun, it generally refers to a trained practitioner in a professional field.
Easily confused with professional
A professional is someone who works in a specialized field, while a professor is specifically an educator, especially one holding a university academic position.
A professional is qualified and usually paid for their work, whereas an amateur undertakes an activity without professional status or remuneration.