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, profession, professionally, white-collar

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

Antonym: amateur, nonprofessional, unprofessional

Part of: professional organisation [Brit], professional organization

Encyclopedia: Professional

• rafflesia
• Rafflesiaceae
• raft
• raft foundation
• rafter
• raftered
• raftman
• rafts
• raftsman
• rag
• rag day
• rag doll
• rag gourd
• rag paper
• rag trade
• rag week
• raga
• ragamuffin
• ragbag
• rage
• ragee
• ragged
• ragged orchid
• ragged orchis
• ragged robin