Word
Definitions
01non-professional
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who takes part in a sport or activity for pleasure, not as a job.
n. one who engages in a pursuit, study, or science as a pastime rather than as a profession.
“The tournament is open to both professionals and amateurs who play for fun.”
“While he remained an amateur throughout his life, his contributions to local botany were respected by university researchers.”
Usage
Often used in contrast with 'professional'.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02unskilled person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal
n. someone who does not have much skill or experience in a specific task.
n. a person perceived as lacking the necessary expertise, qualification, or proficiency for a specific role.
“The plumbing was a mess because it was clearly installed by an amateur.”
“The board dismissed the proposal as the work of an amateur who failed to account for basic market volatility.”
Teaching tip
In this sense, the word is often used as an insult to imply poor quality work.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03not professional
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. done by people who are not paid, or done for a hobby.
adj. relating to or performed by amateurs; not professional in status or compensation.
“She joined a local amateur dramatic society to meet new people.”
“The amateur league maintains strict rules to ensure that no player receives financial compensation for their participation.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “amateur” in context.
Verb
01. dismiss as an amateur
“The critics were quick to dismiss him as an amateur despite his innovative technique.”
verb + prep + noun
02. remain an amateur
“She chose to remain an amateur to ensure that her love for painting was never tainted by commercial pressure.”
verb + noun
Adjective
03. enthusiastic amateur
“The local choir is mostly composed of enthusiastic amateurs who practice every Sunday.”
adj + noun
04. gifted amateur
“Although he never turned professional, he was a gifted amateur who could outplay many masters.”
adj + noun
05. rank amateur
“The clumsy mistakes in the report made him look like a rank amateur.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. amateur dramatics
“He spent his weekends participating in amateur dramatics at the community theater.”
noun + noun
07. amateur status
“The athlete had to maintain his amateur status to be eligible for the collegiate championships.”
noun + noun
Real-World Examples
“An uninhabited Irish island fills up one day each summer for a treasured amateur horse race in which young jockeys ride across the shifting sands.” “The WPGA Tour of Australasia called her an “outstanding young talent” who turned professional at the end of 2025 following a stellar amateur career.” Etymology
Borrowed from French amateur, from Latin amātor (“lover”), from amāre (“to love”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. amateur hour
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/amateur
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR