What does professor mean?
A professor is a senior member of a university’s academic staff, though the precise rank associated with the title varies between institutions and countries. In the United States, it commonly denotes a full professor with a distinguished teaching and research position; in Britain, it can also be used more broadly for university teachers. Beyond its academic use, the word retains older senses connected with openly declaring a belief, skill, or occupation, reflected in related terms such as “profess,” “profession,” and “professional.” The title carries connotations of scholarship, authority, and expertise, but it does not necessarily imply that its holder is the foremost expert on a subject. In formal writing, “professor” is more specific than the broad term “teacher” and should not be used as an informal substitute for “expert.” As a verb, it survives chiefly in archaic or literary contexts and means to profess or declare openly.
A senior academic at a university or college, especially one holding a distinguished faculty position.
"She became a professor of physics at a leading research university."
The title can denote different ranks in different institutions. British usage sometimes applies it more broadly to university teachers.
To profess or declare publicly.
"He professed his loyalty to the old traditions."
This verb is archaic or literary; modern speakers normally use “profess.”
The regular plural is “professors,” with the stress remaining on the second syllable.
"Several professors from the department attended the conference."
The word began with a public declaration: Latin professor meant “one who professes,” originally someone who openly declared a faith or profession.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does professor come from?
The word comes from Latin professor, meaning “one who publicly declares” or “one who professes,” from the participle professus, “declared publicly.” It originally referred to a person who had made a public declaration, especially of religious belief, before eventually becoming associated with teachers of learning and, much later, university academics. English borrowed the word in the 16th century, and its academic sense developed over the following centuries.
Related word forms
How professor is actually used
In British English, “professor” may sometimes be used more broadly for university teachers, while it usually denotes a senior academic in American English. As a verb, “to profess” is literary or archaic and is now much more common than “to professor.”