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amateur

am·a·teur
A a

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [am-uh-choo r, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur]
    • /ˈæm əˌtʃʊər, -tʃər, -tər, ˌæm əˈtɜr/
    • /ˈæm.ə.tər/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [am-uh-choo r, -cher, -ter, am-uh-tur]
    • /ˈæm əˌtʃʊər, -tʃər, -tər, ˌæm əˈtɜr/

Definitions of amateur word

  • countable noun amateur An amateur is someone who does something as a hobby and not as a job. 3
  • adjective amateur Amateur sports or activities are done by people as a hobby and not as a job. 3
  • noun amateur a person who engages in an activity, esp a sport, as a pastime rather than professionally or for gain 3
  • noun amateur an athlete or sportsman 3
  • noun amateur a person unskilled in or having only a superficial knowledge of a subject or activity 3
  • noun amateur a person who is fond of or admires something 3

Information block about the term

Origin of amateur

First appearance:

before 1775
One of the 45% newest English words
1775-85; < French, Middle French < Latin amātor lover, equivalent to amā- (stem of amāre to love) + -tor -tor, replaced by French -teur (< Latin -tōr-, oblique stem of -tor); see -eur

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Amateur

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

amateur popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

amateur usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for amateur

noun amateur

  • dilettante — a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
  • tenderfoot — a raw, inexperienced person; novice.
  • ham — the second son of Noah, Gen. 10:1.
  • beginner — A beginner is someone who has just started learning to do something and cannot do it very well yet.
  • learner — a person who is learning; student; pupil; apprentice; trainee.

adjective amateur

  • unprofessional — not professional; not pertaining to or characteristic of a profession.
  • sloppy — muddy, slushy, or very wet: The field was a sloppy mess after the rain.
  • slapdash — in a hasty, haphazard manner: He assembled the motor slapdash.
  • substandard — below standard or less than adequate: substandard housing conditions.
  • incompetent — not competent; lacking qualification or ability; incapable: an incompetent candidate.

Antonyms for amateur

noun amateur

  • professional — following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.

adjective amateur

  • skillful — having or exercising skill: a skillful juggler.
  • full-time — working or operating the customary number of hours in each day, week, or month: a full-time housekeeper; full-time production. Compare part-time.

Top questions with amateur

  • what does amateur mean?
  • what is this amateur hour?

See also

Matching words

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