English Lexicon

Amateur

/ˈæm.ə.tər/
nounadjectiveCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #4500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A person who engages in a pursuit, especially a sport, on an unpaid rather than a professional basis.

    "The tournament is open to both professionals and amateurs."
As adjective
  1. 1

    Characteristic of or engaged in by an amateur; non-professional.

    "She took a few amateur photographs of the landscape."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the 18th-century French word amateur, stemming from the Latin amator meaning 'lover', from amare ('to love'). Originally denoting someone who loves or is fond of a particular activity, it evolved to designate a non-professional practitioner.

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