Definitions for amateurˈæm əˌtʃʊər, -tʃər, -tər, ˌæm əˈtɜr

This page provides all possible meanings and translations of the word amateur

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

am•a•teurˈæm əˌtʃʊər, -tʃər, -tər, ˌæm əˈtɜr(n.)


    Ref: Compare professional (def. 11). 11


    Category: Sport

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

    Detective work is not for amateurs.

  4. a lover or devotee of an art, science, etc.

  5. (adj.)pertaining to, characteristic of, or engaged in by an amateur:

    amateur tennis.

  6. composed of amateurs.

  7. being an amateur:

    an amateur painter.

Origin of amateur:

1775–85; < F, MF < L amātor lover =amā(re) to love +-tor -tor


Princeton's WordNet

  1. amateur(noun)

    someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime

  2. amateur(adj)

    an athlete who does not play for pay

  3. amateur, recreational, unpaid(adj)

    engaged in as a pastime


  4. amateurish, amateur, inexpert, unskilled(adj)

    lacking professional skill or expertise


Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

  1. amateur(noun)ˈæm əˌtʃʊər, -tʃər, -tər, ˌæm əˈtɜr

    ≠ professional

    The musicians were all amateurs.; amateur ice skaters


  1. amateur(Noun)

    A lover of something.

  2. amateur(Noun)


    She is an accomplished amateur woodworker.

  3. amateur(Noun)

    Someone who is unqualified or insufficiently skillful.


  4. amateur(Adjective)


  5. amateur(Adjective)


    amateur sports

  6. amateur(Adjective)

    Showing a lack of professionalism, experience or talent.

    Duct tape is a sure sign of amateur workmanship.

  7. Origin: From amateur, from amatorem, from amare.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Amateur(noun)



  1. Amateur

    An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science in a non-professional or unpaid manner. Amateurs often have little or no formal training in their pursuits, and many are autodidacts. Amateurism can be seen in both a negative and positive light. Since amateurs often do not have formal training, some amateur work may be considered sub-par. For example, amateur athletes in sports such as basketball, baseball or football are regarded as having a lower level of ability than professional athletes. On the other hand, an amateur may be in a position to approach a subject with an open mind and in a financially disinterested manner. An amateur who dabbles in a field out of casual interest rather than as a profession or serious interest, or who possesses a general but superficial interest in any art or a branch of knowledge, is often referred to as a dilettante. The lack of financial benefit can also be seen as a sign of commitment to an activity; and until the 1970s the Olympic rules required that competitors be amateurs. Receiving payment to participate in an event disqualified an athlete from that event, as in the case of Jim Thorpe. In the Olympics, this rule remains in place for boxing.

British National Corpus

  1. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'amateur' in Adjectives Frequency: #908

Translations for amateur

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary


a person who takes part in a sport etc without being paid for it

The tennis tournament was open only to amateurs.

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