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1. Engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
   "the professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications"; "began her professional career after the Olympics"; "professional theatre"; "professional football"; "a professional cook"; "professional actors and athletes"
    
2. Of or relating to or suitable as a profession
   "professional organizations"; "a professional field such as law"
    
3. Characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession
   "professional conduct"; "professional ethics"; "a thoroughly professional performance"
    
4. Of or relating to a profession
   "we need professional advice"; "professional training"; "professional equipment for his new office"
    
5. Engaged in by members of a profession
   "professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching"

1. A person engaged in one of the learned professions
   - professional person
    
2. An athlete who plays for pay
   - pro
    
3. An authority qualified to teach apprentices
   - master

Derived forms: professionals

See also: nonrecreational, paid, professed, white-collar

Type of: adult, athlete, authority, grownup, jock [N. Amer, informal]

Antonym: nonprofessional, unprofessional

Part of: professional organisation [Brit], professional organization

Encyclopedia: Professional