professional

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled perfeshunal

US /prəˈfɛʃ.ə.nəl/ UK /pɹəˈfɛʃ.ə.nəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #1907

Meanings

1

adj
Relating to a job that needs special training or qualifications.

She decided to get some professional advice before signing the contract.
2

noun
A person who earns money from a job that needs special skills or training.

As an IT professional, he often works late into the night.
3

adj
Showing the skill, care, or behaviour expected in a job.

The waiter handled the complaint in a calm and professional way.
4

noun
A person who is very skilled at something.

You can tell she's a real professional from the way she plays.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms professionals

Derived forms antiprofessionalbiprofessionalextraprofessionalinterprofessionalintraprofessionalmonoprofessionalmultiprofessionalnon-professionalnonprofessionalparaprofessionalpreprofessionalprofersonal

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

professional advice
guidance from a qualified specialist in a particular field

Adjective + noun
professional team
a team whose members are paid to play or work

Adjective + noun
professional golfer
a person who earns a living by playing or teaching golf

Adjective + noun
thoroughly professional
showing the skill, care, and conduct expected of a trained worker in every respect

Adverb + adjective

Etymology

From Middle English professhennalle, professhynalle; equivalent to profession + -al.

professhennalle Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# professional

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /prəˈfɛʃ.ə.nəl/
**IPA (UK):** /pɹəˈfɛʃ.ə.nəl/
**Frequency rank:** 1907

## Meanings
1. Relating to a job that needs special training or qualifications.
2. A person who earns money from a job that needs special skills or training.
3. Showing the skill, care, or behaviour expected in a job.
4. A person who is very skilled at something.

## Examples
- She decided to get some professional advice before signing the contract.
- As an IT professional, he often works late into the night.
- The waiter handled the complaint in a calm and professional way.
- You can tell she's a real professional from the way she plays.

## Derived Forms
- antiprofessional
- biprofessional
- extraprofessional
- interprofessional
- intraprofessional
- monoprofessional
- multiprofessional
- non-professional
- nonprofessional
- paraprofessional
- preprofessional
- profersonal

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: professhennalle

## Etymology
From Middle English professhennalle, professhynalle; equivalent to profession + -al.

## AI Etymology
Professional comes from Middle English professhennalle, professhynalle; equivalent to profession + -al. The historical chain includes professhennalle (Middle English). In present-day English it covers relating to a job that needs special training or qualifications, a person who earns money from a job that needs special skills or training, and showing the skill, care, or behaviour expected in a job. The wider family includes derived forms such as antiprofessional, biprofessional, extraprofessional, interprofessional, intraprofessional.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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