professional

I UK [prəˈfeʃ(ə)nəl] / US [prəˈfəʃən(ə)l] adjective ***

1) relating to work that needs special skills and qualifications

Every applicant is entitled to good professional advice.

Teachers must be free to exercise their professional judgment.

a) showing a high level of skill or training

the firm with the most professional approach to marketing

very/highly/thoroughly professional:

I congratulate you on a thoroughly professional job, done in difficult conditions.

b) behaving in a correct way at work and doing your job well

The whole cast was very professional and hard working in rehearsals.

They want me to dress in a more professional way.

2)

a) relating to a profession and its rules, standards, and arrangements

professional qualifications/training

professional organizations/bodies/associations

b) working in a profession

managerial and professional employees

3) relating to your work or career

We've got a good professional relationship, but I wouldn't say we're friends.

4)

a) playing a sport or doing an activity as a job rather than for enjoyment

a professional actor/footballer/photographer

b) played or done as a job rather than for enjoyment

professional football/boxing

•

a professional... — informal someone who always behaves in a particular way

a professional cynic

go/turn professional — to start to play a sport or game as a job that you get paid for

She went professional at the age of thirteen.

II UK [prəˈfeʃ(ə)nəl] / US noun [countable]
Word forms "professional":
singular professional plural professionals
**

1) someone who has special skills and qualifications

doctors and other professionals

All health professionals need to work closely with families.

2)

a) someone who plays a sport or does an activity as a job rather than for enjoyment

b) someone whose job is to teach people to play a sport at a club

a tennis/golf professional

3) someone who has a lot of skill or training

You've got the makings of a real professional.