Professional

A professional is someone who has a job for which they need a college or university education. Doctors, lawyers, teachers: these are all people in professional occupations (jobs). They may often get paid more than other people, but this is not necessarily the case.

The word "professional" is often used as an adjective, e.g.

• "He did a thoroughly professional job" (meaning: a very good one, even if he was not professional).
• "His behaviour was always professional" (meaning: he behaved in a proper way, like someone of his profession should).

The opposite of "professional" in this sense is: "unprofessional".

Another word that is the opposite of "professional" is "amateur". This means that someone does not get paid for the job he is doing (even if he may be doing it very well).