professional professional /prəˈfɛʃənəl/

adjective

1. () Engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood  ( professional )
   engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
    The professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications
   the professional man or woman possesses distinctive qualifications
    Began her professional career after the Olympics
   began her professional career after the Olympics
    Professional theater
   professional theater
    Professional football
   professional football
    A professional cook
   a professional cook
    Professional actors and athletes
   professional actors and athletes
   
2. () Of or relating to or suitable as a profession  ( professional )
   of or relating to or suitable as a profession
    Professional organizations
   professional organizations
    A professional field such as law
   a professional field such as law
   
3. () Characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession  ( professional )
   characteristic of or befitting a profession or one engaged in a profession
    Professional conduct
   professional conduct
    Professional ethics
   professional ethics
    A thoroughly professional performance
   a thoroughly professional performance
   
4. () Of or relating to a profession  ( professional )
   of or relating to a profession
    We need professional advice
   we need professional advice
    Professional training
   professional training
    Professional equipment for his new office
   professional equipment for his new office
   
5. () Engaged in by members of a profession  ( professional )
   engaged in by members of a profession
    Professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching
   professional occupations include medicine and the law and teaching
   

noun

1. () A person engaged in one of the learned professions  ( professional person , professional )
   a person engaged in one of the learned professions
     The dedicated professional excelled in their chosen field through hard work and expertise.
   The dedicated professional excelled in their chosen field through hard work and expertise.
   
   
2. () An authority qualified to teach apprentices  ( master , professional )
   an authority qualified to teach apprentices
   
3. () An athlete who plays for pay  ( pro , professional )
   an athlete who plays for pay