professional
Relating to a job that requires special education or training. It also describes someone who behaves in a polite, skilled, and reliable way in a work environment.
Examples
3 of 5The doctor gave me some professional advice about my health.
The doctor gave me some expert advice about my health.
We expect a high level of professional conduct from all members of staff.
We expect a high level of expert behavior from all members of staff.
Your new website looks really professional!
Your new website looks really well-made and high-quality!
Antonyms
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Pro' (short for professional) like a 'Pro athlete'—they get paid because they are the best at what they do.
Quick Quiz
The company hired a ____ photographer to take pictures for the magazine.
Correct!
The correct answer is: professional
Examples
The doctor gave me some professional advice about my health.
everydayThe doctor gave me some expert advice about my health.
We expect a high level of professional conduct from all members of staff.
formalWe expect a high level of expert behavior from all members of staff.
Your new website looks really professional!
informalYour new website looks really well-made and high-quality!
The researchers maintained professional standards throughout the study.
academicThe researchers maintained expert quality levels throughout the study.
It is important to keep a professional relationship with your clients.
businessIt is important to keep a business-focused relationship with your clients.
Antonyms
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
in a professional manner
behaving correctly and politely at work
a true professional
someone who is very good at their job
professional services
help from experts like lawyers or accountants
Often Confused With
'Profession' is the noun for the type of job (e.g., teaching), while 'professional' is the adjective describing the quality or person.
A 'professor' is a specific high-level teacher at a university, not a general term for all workers.
Usage Notes
You can use this word as an adjective to describe behavior or as a noun to describe a person who does a job for money rather than as a hobby.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'professional' when they want to say 'expert' or 'specialist' in a specific field, but professional is more general.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Pro' (short for professional) like a 'Pro athlete'—they get paid because they are the best at what they do.
Word Origin
From the Latin 'professio', which means a public statement or a declaration of one's occupation.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
In many English-speaking workplaces, 'being professional' means keeping personal emotions and private life separate from work tasks.
Quick Quiz
The company hired a ____ photographer to take pictures for the magazine.
Correct!
The correct answer is: professional
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
An office is a room, set of rooms, or a building where peopl...
salaryA fixed amount of money that an employee receives at regular...
expertAn expert is a person who has a very high level of knowledge...
careerA career is the series of jobs that a person has in a partic...
businessUsed as an attributive adjective to describe things related...
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