Meaning & use
professional
Relating to or characteristic of a job that requires special training, skill, or qualification.
See it in a sentence
She gave a professional presentation, complete with polished slides and confident delivery.
He plays tennis as a professional, competing in tournaments around the world.
A note on using this word
Professional can describe both the formal occupation sense (a professional athlete) and a manner of doing something with skill and seriousness (acting professional).
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. noun
A person who works in a particular field requiring special training, or who is paid to do something others do as a hobby.
The clinic employs several medical professionals, including nurses and specialist doctors.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “professional”, then compare your use with the examples above.