A2 adjective Neutral #511 most common

professional

/prəˈfɛʃənl/

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 5
1

The doctor gave me some professional advice about my health.

The doctor gave me some expert advice about my health.

2

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.

3

Your new website looks really professional!

Your new website looks really well-made and high-quality!

Word Family

Noun
professional
Verb
professionalize
Adverb
professionally
Adjective
professional
Related
profession
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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

1

The doctor gave me some professional advice about my health.

everyday

The doctor gave me some expert advice about my health.

2

We expect a high level of professional conduct from all members of staff.

formal

We expect a high level of expert behavior from all members of staff.

3

Your new website looks really professional!

informal

Your new website looks really well-made and high-quality!

4

The researchers maintained professional standards throughout the study.

academic

The researchers maintained expert quality levels throughout the study.

5

It is important to keep a professional relationship with your clients.

business

It is important to keep a business-focused relationship with your clients.

Word Family

Noun
professional
Verb
professionalize
Adverb
professionally
Adjective
professional
Related
profession

Common Collocations

professional advice advice from an expert
professional athlete someone paid to play sports
professional experience time spent working in a career
professional skills abilities needed for a job
professional development learning to improve at work

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

professional vs profession

'Profession' is the noun for the type of job (e.g., teaching), while 'professional' is the adjective describing the quality or person.

professional vs professor

A 'professor' is a specific high-level teacher at a university, not a general term for all workers.

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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

Used before a noun (e.g., professional help) Used after a linking verb (e.g., She is very professional) Has no plural form when used as an adjective
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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 Words

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contrastaency

C1

This adjective describes a state or quality characterized by sharp, distinct differences or a high degree of contrast against a surrounding context. It is primarily used in technical, artistic, or analytical settings to highlight elements that are intentionally divergent or visually striking.

transrogous

C1

A transrogous is a transitional entity or conceptual bridge that connects two distinct systems, categories, or states of being. It is primarily used in theoretical modeling to describe a point of intersection where properties of both surrounding domains are visible.

semiuniation

C1

The process or state of being partially joined or incomplete unification where elements remain distinct despite being combined. It typically describes a compromise between total separation and a complete merger in organizational or technical contexts.

antehospdom

C1

To provide preliminary care or hospitality within a domestic setting before a person is admitted to a formal institution or before a formal event occurs. This term describes the transitional phase of home-based management that precedes professional intervention.

superdentable

C1

To create profound and permanent indentations in a surface by applying extreme force or pressure. This term is typically used in specialized material stress tests to describe the act of compromising a structural surface's integrity through excessive marking.

multivity

C1

The state or quality of possessing multiple dimensions, functions, or activities simultaneously within a single system or entity. It describes a complex nature where various roles or layers coexist and interact rather than existing in isolation.

encitor

C1

A person or agent that rouses, stimulates, or provokes others into action or a particular emotional state. It is typically used to describe an individual who instigates change or a catalyst that initiates a complex process.

multicarnness

C1

Relating to the state of possessing or manifesting in multiple physical bodies or fleshy forms simultaneously. It is used to describe entities, particularly in speculative fiction or philosophy, that transcend a single biological vessel.

supermentdom

C1

A state or condition of absolute intellectual supremacy or a realm governed by an elite group of superior minds. It refers to the conceptual domain where cognitive power and mental prowess dictate the structure of authority or society.

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