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View synonyms for

amateur

[am-uh-choor, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur]

noun

  1. a person who engages in a study, sport, or other activity for pleasure rather than for financial benefit or professional reasons.

  2. an athlete who has never competed for payment or for a monetary prize.

    Synonyms:
  3. a person inexperienced or unskilled in a particular activity.

    Hunting lions is not for amateurs.

    Synonyms: , ,
  4. a person who admires something; devotee; fan.

    an amateur of the cinema.



adjective

  1. characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; nonprofessional.

    an amateur painter; amateur tennis.

amateur

/ -tʃə, ˌæməˈtɜː, ˈæmətə, -ˌtjʊə /

noun

  1. a person who engages in an activity, esp a sport, as a pastime rather than professionally or for gain

  2. an athlete or sportsman

  3. a person unskilled in or having only a superficial knowledge of a subject or activity

  4. a person who is fond of or admires something

  5. (modifier) consisting of or for amateurs

    an amateur event

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. amateurish; not professional or expert

    an amateur approach

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • proamateur adjective
  • ˈٱܰ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur1

1775–85; < French, Middle French < Latin ٴǰ lover, equivalent to - (stem of to love) + -tor -tor, replaced by French -teur (< Latin -ō-, oblique stem of -tor ); -eur
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Word History and Origins

Origin of amateur1

C18: from French, from Latin ٴǰ lover, from to love
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He had been an assistant coach at Long Beach State and before that Riverside City College while also helping USA Baseball identify amateur talent.

From

He’s expected to be a high pick in next month’s amateur draft.

From

And though she only ever referred to herself as an amateur with a camera, Turner-Seed once saw a photo of hers land on the cover of the New York Times.

From

Brown had already been detained by off-duty Florida Highway Patrol officers serving as security for the amateur boxing event held in the area.

From

College athletes have long been considered more susceptible to taking money from gamblers than pro athletes because they are amateurs.

From

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Amaterasuamateurish