amateur

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A person who does an activity for pleasure rather than as a paid job.

   As an amateur, she paints in the evenings after work.

2. 2
   adj

   Done as a hobby rather than for money.

   He plays in an amateur football league on weekends.

3. 3
   adj

   Lacking skill or done without professional quality.

   The repair looked amateur, with uneven paint everywhere.

4. 4
   noun

   A person who lacks skill or experience at something.

   The whole thing was built by amateurs and fell apart in a week.

Common collocations

• amateur detective Adjective + noun

Borrowed from French amateur, from Latin amātor (“lover”), from amāre (“to love”).

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