Meaning & use
pro staff
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A group of skilled players or experts who represent and promote a company's products, especially in sports.
Grammar: Usually used as a singular group: the pro staff, a pro staff. Can be plural: pro staffs.
Patterns
- on the pro staff
- join the pro staff
- a member of the pro staff
She was invited to join the tennis company's pro staff after winning the national title.
The pro staff at the golf shop helped customers choose the right clubs.
Many fishing guides are on the pro staff for major tackle brands.
Word forms
| plural | pro staffs |
|---|
Common combinations
- join the pro staff
- He hopes to join the pro staff of a major ski brand.
- on the pro staff
- Several Olympic athletes are on the pro staff.
- pro staff member
- As a pro staff member, she tests new equipment.
- pro staff team
- The pro staff team meets twice a year for training.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sponsored athlete
- Focuses on the individual who receives support, while 'pro staff' often refers to the whole group.
- brand ambassador
- Used in many industries, not just sports, and emphasizes promotion rather than playing skill.
Commonly confused: pro staff or professional staff?
pro staff vs professional staff
'Professional staff' means employees who work in an office or have specialized training, not athletes who represent a brand.
Practice
The tennis player was proud to be ___ the pro staff of a famous racket company.
Choose one answer.
'On the pro staff' is the usual phrase, meaning you are a member of that group. 'In' would suggest being inside a physical place, and 'at' or 'with' do not fit this fixed expression.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pro staff”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.