professional

Academic Word List, sublist 4.

About 61.63 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun A person who belongs to a profession.
2. noun A white-collar worker, especially one with a specialized, high-earning job such as a doctor or engineer.
3. noun A person who earns their living from a specified activity.
4. noun A prostitute.

   There was this nice lady who flirted with me at the bar, but it turned out that she was a professional.

5. noun A reputation known by name.
6. noun An expert.
7. noun One of four categories of sociologist propounded by Horowitz: a sociologist who is actively concerned with promoting the profession of sociology.
8. adjective Of, pertaining to, or in accordance with the (usually high) standards of a profession.

   The doctor is very professional in his manner.

Similar words

master paid white-collar expert professed pro nonrecreational professional person vocation vocational

Often followed by

and development training services men life associations education organizations

Word family

professionalism professionally professionals