professional

Pronunciation

• IPA: /prəˈfeʃ.ən.əl/^[1]

Etymology

It is formed from English profession + -al.^[2][3][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Relating to the profession of vows in a religious order: the mid-15th century, as profeshinalle,^[4] about 1420 in the OED,^[5] a rare sense only in late Middle English.^[2]

Semantic evolution

Of careers, “pertaining to a profession or calling”, it is by 1747,^[4][5] and of the skilled or learned professions from 1793.^[5][4] Merriam-Webster gives 1606.^[3][6] One who follows an occupation as a livelihood is professional from 1798,^[5] and the noun, a professional person, is from 1798 in Etymonline^[4] or 1811 in Merriam-Webster.^[3] In sports and amusements, “engaged in for money”, as opposed to amateur, it is by 1846^[4] or 1851.^[5] It is used disparagingly of someone who relentlessly pursues an activity, as in a professional patriot, from 1879,^[5] and “of the standard expected of a professional” from 1926.^[5]

Timeline

• c. 1420 – of religious vows.^[5]
• 1606 – first known use in Merriam-Webster.^[3]
• 1747 – relating to a profession.^[4][5]
• 1798 – noun, a professional person.^[4]
• 1846 – in sport, for money.^[4]
• 1879 – disparaging use.^[5]
• 1926 – of a professional standard.^[5]

Modern meaning

Adjective

1. Relating to or engaged in a profession.
2. Doing something for payment rather than as an amateur.
3. Having or showing the skill and standards of a professional.
4. (disparaging) Habitually engaged in an activity: a professional complainer.

Noun

1. A person who works in a profession.
2. A person paid to take part in a sport or activity.

Word family

• professionally
• extraprofessional
• interprofessional
• nonprofessional
• paraprofessional
• preprofessional
• professionalism
• professionalize

Related words

• profession
• profess
• professor
• pro

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
6. ^ Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster