Etymologically
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professional

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 15:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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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

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