Meaning & use
amateur
Last updated
A person who engages in an activity for pleasure or as a hobby, rather than as a paid profession.
See it in a sentence
The tournament is open to amateurs who don't earn money from the sport.
As an amateur astronomer, he spends weekends studying the night sky through his backyard telescope.
A note on using this word
Amateur can be neutral (simply meaning "not paid to do this") or mildly critical (implying a lack of skill), depending on context.
Words with a similar meaning
novicehobbyist
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Engaged in without payment or professional status.
She's an amateur photographer who sells prints only occasionally.
Make it your own
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